Apprentice jockey Sophie Logan wins Kangaroo Island Cup for trainer Grant Young aboard Diamonds Are
Grant Young’s first trip to Kangaroo Island as a trainer was a worthwhile one after apprentice jockey Sophie Logan rode Diamonds Are to victory in the racing club’s biggest event of the year.
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Diamonds Are will long be memorable in the eyes of promising apprentice Sophie Logan after giving her victory in the $25,000 Dudley Wines Kangaroo Island Cup on Saturday.
The Grant Young-trained galloper was ridden perfectly and capped Logan’s most successful day in the saddle, winning three of the seven races in front of a record Cup crowd.
Young, South Australia’s leading country trainer, said supporting the Island in the wake of the devastating bushfires and the opportunities the carnival presented his stable, and Logan, was a motivating factor for his first trip to the track since his riding days.
“I came here when I was 16-years-old as a rider and won a sprint race, but this is the first time I’ve bought horses over,’’ Young said.
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“I’m just really pleased for Sophie.”
Logan has been the backbone of Young’s Murray Bridge stable and took a lead role when the trainer endured health issues early in 2019.
Young said witnessing her development knowing how hard she works and determined she is to forge a successful career in the saddle has been a huge thrill and made the trip worthwhile.
“Soph’s going really well and she’s only getting better,’’ Young added.
“That’s why I am here for her.
“Her riding has been a working progress but she’s really coming into her own.
“She’s a bloody hard worker and is really starting to get the rewards on the track.
“Her confidence is growing, she recently landed her first winner in town (at Morphettville) and that has really lifted her.”
The stable had been around the mark over the two-day carnival before Jacks A Cracker was successful early in the day, Star Of Monsoon made it a double when he won at Morphettville, before Diamonds Are thrived on a hectic early Cup speed before proving too good for rivals.
“We’ve been peppering the goalsquare all day, but it’s brilliant to get the result,’’ Young said,
“It’s nice to be here supporting the country racing clubs, especially given what Kangaroo Island has been through over the past few months.”
The bumper crowd was roaring early in the day when local horseman David Hall produced William’s Quest to win the opening race.
Hall trains just three horses, but the money was right with William’s Quest heavily backed to run a $2.60 favourite before capitalising on a hectic tempo upfront and overpowering rivals – with Lizzie Annells in saddle – much to the delight of plenty happy punters.