Top 10 up and coming SA jockeys to watch in 2024 revealed
South Australia has a strong reputation for producing world class jockeys and several young stars are ready to make their mark. See our top 10 rising jockeys to watch in the 2024 racing season.
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South Australia has a reputation for producing some of the world’s best jockeys such as Jamie Kah and Kerrin McEvoy and there is an impressive crop of up and coming talent ready to make its mark in 2024.
With the help of Racing SA, we’ve picked the top 10 up and coming riders to watch this racing season.
Here is our list.
JACOB OPPERMAN
Age: 20
A leading apprentice who has already enjoyed a spectacular start to his early career with Listed and Group 3 success aboard Royal Mile during the 2021 carnival.
Opperman currently sits in sixth position in the SA Jockey Premiership and is building strong relationships with leading stables.
Is riding almost 20 per cent runners to winners through the last three months.
ROCHELLE MILNES
Age: 21
Milnes is a highly regarded young rider who has recorded 66 wins since her debut in November 2022.
The rising star jockey has only just commenced her metro riding career but is gaining momentum fast and is poised to make a big impact on the SA riding rankings in 2024.
BEN PRICE
Age: 21
A talented jockey, Price does the bulk of his riding for leading trainers Will Clarken and Niki O’Shea and finished fourth in last year’s Metropolitan Jockey Premiership.
Price landed the biggest win of his career in the Oaklands Plate last July when called on by the Tony and Calvin McEvoy stable.
The win was part of a city treble.
KAYLA CROWTHER
Age: 25
Former Dux of the Apprentice Academy with more than 600 wins to her name, Crowther has been the leading rider across South Australia for the past two seasons.
She won the 2022 Group 3 Spring Stakes and is the go-to jockey for leading local trainers David Jolly and Phillip Stokes.
She has also been called on by the likes of Danny O’Brien and Mick Price/Michael Kent Jnr when they bring horses to Adelaide.
KELSEY HANNAN
Age: 21
New Zealander Hannan decided to call SA home and has come onto the Adelaide scene with seven winners in her first five meets before suffering a broken jaw.
She returned to racing late last year and is based in Murray Bridge with leading trainer Michael Hickmott.
It should only be a matter of time before Hannan is back riding winners and in demand.
LACHIE NEINDORF
Age: 21
One of the leading young riders in SA who finished second on the Metropolitan Jockey Premiership last season behind Jake Toeorek.
Neindorf has established himself as one of the top SA jockeys since coming back to Adelaide and joining forces with the Gordon Richards and Damien Moyle stable at Morphettville.
Will be one to watch as he continues an impressive run of success.
ALANA LIVESEY
Age: 26
Another apprentice who has made a big impact in a short space of time, Livesey has already banked 122 winners since debuting in 2021.
She picked up a ride in the 2023 Adelaide Cup and recorded the biggest win of her career late last year winning the Listed Christmas Handicap.
BROOKE KING
Age: 16
The daughter of former talented rider and Dux of the Apprentice Academy Raygan Koch (Rayner), King is yet to make her riding debut but has all the makings to be a star of the saddle.
The 16-year-old has grown up around horses, lives and breathes thoroughbred racing and will undoubtedly make an impact on the local riding ranks when she is granted her license to ride this year.
NICHOLA YUEN
Age: 23
Hailing from Hong Kong, apprentice Nichola Yuen has come a long way in a short space of time, riding 50 winners since making her debut at Lock in February 2022.
Based at Gawler, Yuen landed her first city winner in December and is set to be a rider in demand through 2024.
MAGGIE COLLETT
Age: 25
Collett has made an immediate impact since her return from injury in late 2023, riding 12 winners in her last 97 rides.
This included a feature race double on Finals Day at Morphettville, which she followed with her first metropolitan treble jut weeks later.
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