Apprentice Carleen Hefel gets Group 1 call up

Celine Gaudray has given Carleen Hefel the chance to take the lead in the Melbourne Apprentices’ Premiership race by accepting a ride in a Group 1 race in Brisbane.

Gaudray left for Brisbane on Thursday to do some early work on the Eagle Farm track after gaining the ride on Excelida in the Tattersall’s Tiara (1400m) on Saturday.

The ride on Excelida will be Gaudray’s fourth in a Stakes race with her previous three all being at Listed level with a second on Buffalo River in the Anniversary Vase at Sandown in April her best result.

Gaudray and Hefel and locked in a battle for the apprentices’ title, but Gaudray said she had no regrets about heading to Brisbane for her first Group 1 ride.

“I’m very excited,” Gaudray said.

“I was having a nap and my manager called me to say that I potentially have a ride in the Group 1.

“He said the owner really wanted me on, so I was happy to grab the opportunity with both hands.

“Winning the apprentices’ premiership is also a goal of mine, but the ride in the Group 1 is always something that I would take first.

“A Group 1 could provide a lot of opportunities while the apprentices would look good on the CV.”

Following Saturday’s meeting at Caulfield, there are 10 metropolitan meetings remaining for the season should Gaudray need time to haul in Hefel.

Gaudray said after being locked in for the ride on Excelida, she immediately began the work of learning as much as she can about the mare.

“I’ve never sat on the horse in my life, but once I was told I was riding the horse I went had a look at her form and replays,” Gaudray said.

“She looks like a nice horse.”

Besides Excelida, Gaudray will also partner Brereton for Peter Moody in the Group 3 W J Healy Stakes (1200m) and Lasting Kiss in the Impressu Sprint Group (1200m).

“They look nice rides, so hopefully I can make the most of it up there,” Gaudray said.