TALENTED APPRENTICE LEADING BOTH KEMBLA GRANGE PREMIERSHIPS

KEMBLA GRANGE’S racing year is not yet halfway old – but Mollie Fitzgerald is making giant strides toward snaring a premierships double at the track.

The talented young jockey already holds a big lead in the apprentices’ title, and also has a handy advantage in her bid to beat all-comers and win the senior premiership.

Fitzgerald’s Kembla double yesterday on Exfortythree and Oui Flourish helped lift her points score for the 2025-26 racing year to 61.

This gives her a 28-point lead over closest rival Mitch Stapleford in the apprentices’ premiership, and she is 15 ahead of Mitchell Bell in the jockeys’ premiership.

Not surprisingly she also currently leads the overall provincial riding premiership with 30 wins; narrowly ahead of Mitchell Bell and perennial champion Keagan Latham.

Both Kembla Grange titles are awarded on a 3, 2 and 1 points basis.

Fitzgerald gained seven points yesterday, courtesy of scoring on a pair of debutantes.

She won the Midway Maiden Handicap (1000m) for Hawkesbury trainer Ed Cummings on well-supported $3.50 favorite Exfortythree, and Maiden Handicap (1300m) on Oui Flourish ($4.80).

The three-year-old daughter of The Everest winner Yes Yes Yes is trained by Fitzgerald’s masters, Annabel and Rob Archibald.

Fitzgerald earned another point by finishing third on Wyong trainer Tracey Bartley’s $3 favorite Titanium Miss in the Provincial Benchmark 68 Handicap (1200m).

Both Bell (46 points) and Latham (45 points) kept in touch in the senior title by each riding a winner for respective Hawkesbury trainers Matt Vella and Jason Attard.

Bell took the Super Maiden Plate (1600m) on $16 chance Dynast King, and Latham scored on Cryptonic ($7.50) in the 1200m Provincial Benchmark 68 Handicap.

Leading Kembla Grange trainers Rob and Luke Price aren’t giving up their premiership titles without a fight.

The father and son team made it four local wins for the season with a rapidly improving Century Song ($2.90) in the Class 1 Handicap (1000m).

Following up a Nowra breakthrough last month, Century Song (Brock Ryan) always travelled like a winner and won easily, defeating Pietro Road ($7) and Li’l Grug ($21).

Team Price removed a tongue tie from the four-year-old son of Microphone prior to his Nowra victory, and he has certainly responded to the gear change.

With four wins, Team Price is not far behind Kerry Parker (six wins) and Mitch Beer and George Carpenter (5) in the local trainers’ premiership (based solely on wins).

However, Team Beer joined Sydney maestro Chris Waller at the top of the All Trainers’ premiership (3, 2 and 1 points basis) by finishing third yesterday with Artful Persuasion ($3.60).

Both Waller and Team Beer currently have amassed 39 points each.

Wyong trainer Damien Lane’s trip west with one horse paid dividends today when he landed the Gilgandra Cup (1600m) with $26 chance Wealthy Investor.

Lane was pleased yesterday when he was able to book Jake Pracey-Holmes after the jockey’s original mount Marnoo was withdrawn.

“Wealthy Investor needs a strong rider, and it was great to be able to get Jake,” Lane said.

An aggressive Pracey-Holmes ride paved the way for Wealthy Investor to round up his rivals wide on the home turn and continue on to defeat Tainui ($6) and Rouge Moulin ($2.60 favorite).

STORY JOHN CURTIS, JANUARY 4, 2026 - PICS BRADLEY PHOTOS