So Proud of Hayley

Te Akau apprentice Hayley Hassman was awarded the Toby Autridge Trophy for Most Promising First Year Apprentice at The Milan Park 2025 (Northern Region) Apprentice Jockey Awards held on 29 September at Cambridge Stud.  

A month earlier, Hassman won the The Lindsay Family Champion Apprentice Award at the Matamata Racing Awards, having recorded 20 wins, placed 31 times, from 140 rides, earning over $450,000 in prize money, during the 2024/25 season.  

Although currently suspended until close of racing on Sunday 26 October, Hassman remains in good spirits and able to ride track work for Te Akau at Matamata, along with jump outs and trials.

“It was a bit of a shock to receive the award, but a nice shock to have, and I’ve now got two horse trophies on my window sill in my first year,” Hassman said. 

Earlier in the year, Hassman (19) was accepted in the first intake for the Elite Jockey Programme. 

Developed by New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing (NZTR) and overseen by riding masters Noel Harris, Kim Clapperton, and Jason Laking, the three-year programme includes guidance from leading high-performance sports personal, in fitness, psychology, and diet.

“Being accepted into the new Elite Jockey Programme has been a massive help,” Hassman said. 

“We catch up with them every Monday, where Noel (Harris, riding master) has plenty of time to go over our race replays with us and we’ve got a personal trainer as well, Maree Blakey. She’s got us doing amazing things, which has been very good for all the apprentices.

“When I sustained an injury in July, she worked with me three times a week, and Noel was always there if I needed to chat.

“The Te Akau team has been amazing, and with Sam (Bergerson) we chat every morning about upcoming rides and each week we go through replays. It’s good to get that feedback from the trainer and seeing it through their eyes. 

“They’re giving me massive support and trusting me on such good quality horses, so to be entrusted with that and to get the results is really satisfying.

“There are plenty of horses, plenty of opportunities, and the fact that they can send me down to ride their horses in the South Island, too. It’s nice to ride down there, and all the horses in the Te Akau stables at Riccarton are just so happy and love their work.”