Talented apprentice Jordyn Weatherley set to make metropolitan debut at Caulfield Heath

Talented apprentice jockey Jordyn Weatherley is excited to make her metropolitan race riding debut on Thursday at Caulfield Heath aboard short-priced favourite Romantic Choice.

Apprentice jockey Jordyn Weatherley has ridden Romantic Choice four times for three wins and a second. Picture: Vince Caligiuri/Getty Images

Talented apprentice jockey Jordyn Weatherley is excited to make her metropolitan debut on Thursday at Caulfield Heath aboard short-priced favourite Romantic Choice.

Tom Dabernig-trained Romantic Choice, a last start Caulfield Heath, is a $1.95 favourite with Ladbrokes for the 1000m Benchmark 70.

Weatherley has ridden 41 winners to date, including 28 for Dabernig.

The 20-year-old credited her boss and mentor as “the biggest help in my career”.

“I knew he’d be a really good boss but you don’t find many bosses that give you as many opportunities as Tom does,” Weatherley said.

“Just having a trainer believe in me, like Tom does (has been a big help), he throws me a lot of winners and puts me on a lot.

“The confidence in riding winners for him (helped development) and I work quite hard, so hard work is paying off, which is good, but Tom is my biggest help in my career.

“It’s very exciting to get going (in the city), it’s what every apprentice looks forward to doing and one of those things you work really hard for.”

Weatherley has ridden Romantic Choice four times for three wins and a second place.

Smart ride from Jordyn Weatherley! ⭐️

Romantic Choice proves too good for them at Geelong. @dabernigracingpic.twitter.com/y7HRku02iC

— Racing.com (@Racing) December 15, 2023

“I won on her a few times … I ride her every day and she’s one of my favourite rides so it’s really good the owners have allowed me to ride her in town,” Weatherley said.

“She’s a really tough filly, she pulled up after her last run amazing … she’s got every chance.

“There’s a lot of speed in the race but she’s drawn a good gate and hopefully she’s too good for them.”

Weatherley has been most effective on sprinters, especially when able to lead or travel on the speed, with 30 of her 41 winners in races less than 1300m.

The Warrnambool-based Mornington native hopes to ride more in Melbourne and surrounds over summer with opportunities abound for apprentice jockeys.

“My goal is to ride 50 winners by the end of the season,” Weatherley said, nine short of her immediate target.

“I hope once I start riding in town and get seen a little bit more I’ll start riding across over the other side of the city, Pakenham way, hopefully it opens up a few more doors.

“You definitely clock up the kilometres (as an apprentice) but when it’s worth it, it’s easy, I don’t mind driving these longer distances, you see a lot of the countryside.

“If I could get a couple of city winners that would be a huge tick off my goals.”

Originally published as Talented apprentice Jordyn Weatherley set to make metropolitan debut at Caulfield Heath