Weight expectations: Jockey Celine Gaudray to make light work of Spring carnival

Leading apprentice jockey Celine Gaudray has prioritised a healthy weight cut to prepare for the spring and build on another stellar season in the saddle.

Celine Gaudray celebrates at Flemington victory aboard Veloce Carro in June and (inset) Gaudray pilots Wyclif to victory at Caulfield on June 29. Pictures: Reg Ryan, Scott Barbour / Racing Photos

Leading apprentice jockey Celine Gaudray has prioritised a healthy weight cut to prepare for the spring and build on another stellar season in the saddle.

Gaudray, poised for a top five finish in the Melbourne jockeys’ premiership, has set a goal to ride 51kg again in the new season to help secure better rides ahead of her eventual transition to senior rider.

“We’re very limited with lightweight riders, so if I can ride light hopefully the opportunities will come to me,” Gaudray said.

“I really want to switch on for the spring time and being able to ride 51kg again would (get me) on the better chances.”

Champion jockeys Craig Williams and Jamie Kah usually get first pick at the lightweight rides in Melbourne, along with Michael Dee and Craig Newitt.

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Gaudray nudged 58kg last month, basically bedridden for 10 days with a bad case of the flu, but has got back to 54kg.

“I’ve been dieting for four weeks, my weight is coming down really well,” Gaudray said.

“I got really sick and my weight skyrocketed … it was really bad, but it’s coming down slowly, I’m avoiding wasting.

“I’m pushing it but (also) saving myself for the spring.”

Gaudray has six rides at Flemington to build on her season tally of 42 metro winners including Eugenius, Wyclif and Cavallo Rampante.

Damian Lane (84 winners) has the premiership sewn up with a 13-win buffer over Blake Shinn (71), while Dee (47) should lock down third with four city meetings left in the season.

Gaudray and Daniel Stackhouse (40) round out the top five from Jye McNeil (38).

Celine Gaudray continues her winning form this season 💥 pic.twitter.com/61RpNEEj8F

— Racing.com (@Racing) June 15, 2024

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Gaudray has nine months officially to run in her apprenticeship but only four more city winners to outride a beneficial 1.5kg claim.

“I have the advantage of the claim, being on that leaderboard, but it’s a massive milestone,” Gaudray said.

“My goal this year was to win the (apprentice) premiership, as Carleen (Hefel) did last year.

“It’s massive to see my name in the top five, a pretty surreal feeling, up there with some really big (name) jockeys.”

Gaudray, who collected the Rising Star Series title at the corresponding Flemington card last year, praised apprentice Luke Cartwright for winning the coveted prize in his rookie riding season.

Originally published as Weight expectations: Jockey Celine Gaudray to make light work of Spring carnival