Carleen Hefel consolidates Melbourne Apprentices’ Premiership lead

Apprentice jockey Carleen Hefel is keeping her feet firmly on the ground despite extending her lead in the Melbourne Apprentices’ Premiership race.

After landing a double at Caulfield last Saturday, including her first win in a Stakes race, Hefel guided Coriolis to victory in the Ladbrokes Racing Club Handicap (1200m) on Wednesday.

That victory, at her first ride for Godolphin and James Cummings put Hefel four wins clear of Celine Gaudray in the Apprentices’ Premiership Race.

Settling in the second half of the field, Hefel pulled Coriolis ($6.50) out to the centre of the track where she rocketed home to score by 1-½ lengths from Southern Chilli ($12) with the $5.50 favourite The Guava a further head away third.

“I’m not getting ahead of myself,” Hefel said.

“There are still five or six meetings to go to the end of the season.”

Celebrations will also be kept on hold for Hefel despite riding her first winner for Godolphin.

After landing her first win in a Stakes race for Peter Moody aboard Sigh in the Sir John Monash Stakes at Caulfield last Saturday, Hefel celebrated with a quiet dinner.

“I was very quiet as I had to ride on Sunday,” Hefel said.

“I went out for dinner and had a couple of champagnes.”

Hefel said it was amazing to get the call up from Godolphin to ride Coriolis on Wednesday.

“They’re a good team to ride for,” she said.

“You don’t take riding for Godolphin lightly. The team don’t just put anyone on, so they must have been watching and that filly was cherry ripe for today.

“She got off the bridle and they rolled along a bit, and she was not quite comfortable in the ground, but she showed a good turn of foot.

“(Assistant trainer) Sean (Keogh) was pretty confident that she would show a nice turn of foot and once she straightened up, she showed it.”

Hefel will look to extend her lead at Flemington on Saturday where she has rides in eight of the nine races after competing at Bendigo on Thursday and Bairnsdale on Friday.