Star from Otago: Melbourne's Leading Female Apprentice

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Emerging star apprentice Jaylah Kennedy baking up sweet success

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Rising star Jaylah Kennedy is second in pursuit of the Melbourne apprentice jockey title but certainly atop the popularity stakes for sharing home-baked sweet treats on race day.

A decadent batch of "brookies", combined brownie and chocolate chip cookie slice, cut into jockey portion-sized squares, attracted rave reviews last Wednesday at Sandown.

Kennedy is lucky to be genetically-blessed to indulge her passion for cooking and baking, an unlikely pastime for most jockeys given the importance of weight management.

"It's a little thing I enjoy doing on the side, when I'm not riding light," Kennedy said.

"It's cold in winter, so nice to bring something in that can warm peoples' tummies.

"I love cooking, I love baking, I just bought a house and it's got a nice kitchen so I'm making use of it.

"I'm lucky I'm four foot nine … any taller and if I cooked and bake like I do, I probably wouldn't be a jockey."

Jockeys, trainers, race-day officials and stewards polished the brookies last Wednesday.

"I told the stewards they can't suspend me if they're going to eat my baking," Kennedy laughed.

"I made them bite-sized jockey pieces so everyone could enjoy."

Kennedy has six rides at Flemington on Saturday, including the electric Bold Bastille in the last.

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"She's naturally very speedy, I made my way to Werribee the other day to trial her, hoping to keep her race day first-up, and she did everything right," Kennedy said.

"She pulled up like a horse ready to go to the races now … first up she could be maybe that little bit vulnerable late but … she'll be there to take a bit of running down."

Rising star apprentice jockey Jaylah Kennedy has a passion for cooking and baking. Picture: Getty Images

Kennedy has ridden 20 city winners to date this season, one less than clubhouse leader Tom Prebble, a friend and fellow fourth-year apprentice.

Prebble has the stronger hand on Saturday with six rides, including favourites Splash Back and Jimmy The Bear.

"I've been going to the races thinking anything can happen lately," Kennedy said.

"An open book and try not to overthink this. Hopefully it's a good weekend.

"It comes down to the support you've got around you, I've been getting a lot of good opportunities with a lot of big stables … it's always good to be able to repay them.

"This is my first full season riding in town and I'm happy with how things are going, hopefully we can tick off the metro premiership, it's a really big goal of mine this season.

"It's pretty competitive between me and Tom Prebble, he's one of my best mates but at the same I'd be happy to be in first place and him second."

Apprentice jockeys rode five of the nine winners last Saturday at Sandown.

 

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