LONG MUDGEE TRIP WAS WORTH THE TROUBLE

Jake Hull says he has never been so happy to go to a non-TAB meeting!

The Gosford trainer had promised his cousin, apprentice Hollie Hull, he would put her on a comeback winner if she did the hard yards – and he delivered at Mudgee yesterday.

But it very nearly didn’t happen, through no fault of the trainer and jockey.

Hull was confident he could provide his cousin with a winner at her first race ride in just over two years, on four-year-old Rebelious Red ($4) in the Benchmark 50 Handicap (1100m).

However, after an eventful car trip towing the gelding in the float behind, they made it to Mudgee just in time for the apprentice to lead throughout.

“We were on the Golden Highway when we encountered a road block because of a bad traffic accident,” Hull explained today.

“So we had to turn around and go via Muswellbrook to get there.

“It took us about five hours to get to Mudgee, but thankfully we got the right result for Hollie, and I was so pleased for her.”

The young jockey began her career with Dubbo trainer Clint Lundholm in 2022, and rode her first winner (Ferus) at that track on June 3 that year.

She posted another 10 winners before deciding to call a halt on her career after finishing fourth on Kembla Grange trainer Joe Ible’s The Carpet Bagger at Goulburn on September 22, 2023.

“Hollie walked away from riding in races, and instead began riding trackwork for Godolphin at Agnes Banks,” Jake Hull said.

“She was keen to come back to the Central Coast, and began a new apprenticeship with fellow Gosford trainer Kylie Gavenlock several months ago.

“I promised her that if she worked hard and rode some trackwork for me, I would do my best to give her a winner at her comeback ride.

“I mentioned to her that Red Rebelious would lead, and not to go too hard, but enough to keep the others chasing.

“She got him into a nice rhythm, and rode him a treat.

“Red Rebelious only just got there, but it was pretty special to see her win at her first ride back.

“Hopefully that will give her a good kick start to resurrecting her career.”

Hull’s previous winner was Sin City Belle at Dubbo on July 10, 2023.

As for the trainer, that was the former jockey’s 35^th winner since his first runner (Rejinsky) at Warwick Farm on October 19, 2022.

His maiden success came a couple of months later, with Goofy Mick at Taree on December 18.

Story John Curtis, October 5, 2025 - Pics Bradley Photos