Rising Stars ready to shine at Flemington

Tom Prebble, leads the series with 42 points. In just over two-and-a-half years of race riding, he’s notched up 119 wins, including a standout treble at Flemington in June – two for his aunt and uncle, Michelle and Patrick Payne, and another for Grahame Begg. 

“That was easily the best day I’ve had at the track,” Prebble said. “I was so happy to win for Patrick and Michelle. Them being family, I wanted to do right by them.” 

His first city winner came just over a year ago, and he has since ridden 27 metropolitan winners. This Saturday, he partners Sound It Out for Chris Waller in the final leg of the Rising Stars Series. 

“I love the technical side of riding – the planning, the last 400 metres, having to make decisions in real time,” Prebble said. “I enjoy it for what it is. I’m trying to make the most of every opportunity.” 

Resilience is part of every jockey’s toolkit, but Sarah Field has had more practice than most. The 27-year-old endured four knockbacks before being accepted into Racing Victoria’s apprentice program and was sidelined by a broken leg not long after her debut win. Now, she’s a third-year apprentice with 44 winners, including seven in June alone. 

She’ll make her metropolitan debut at Flemington this Saturday, riding Matriarch Road for Dan O’Sullivan, to whom she is on loan.  

Field currently sits second on the leaderboard with 39 points. “It’s very close – anyone could win it,” she said. “It’s a great series and I’m very grateful to be a part of it.” 

Raised in Ballarat, Field was immersed in horses from a young age. She joined pony club at four, was eventing by eight, and began riding trackwork at 15. Her father, also a trackworker and now a hobby trainer, helped spark her early love of the sport. 

“I love horses – that’s the main reason I love this job,” she said. “It can be tough but rewarding. As for my future goals, I think every apprentice dreams of winning the Melbourne Cup one day. Right now, I’m just ticking off little milestones like riding my first metropolitan race this weekend.” 

To stay race-fit, she rides trackwork daily and fits in other exercise when she can. Due to the unpredictable nature of the job, routine can be challenging, so her favourite form of exercise is walking her two dogs – a greyhound and a dachshund. 

Stephanie Hateley sits just behind Field on 37 points. Her path into race riding wasn’t typical of most apprentices. Originally from the UK, she came to Australia on a working holiday at 19, found work with trainer Henry Dwyer, and discovered a passion for racing. 

With a background in hunting and showjumping, Hateley hadn’t ridden racehorses before moving here, but she can’t imagine doing anything else now. Based at Cranbourne and apprenticed to Anthony and Sam Freedman, she rides trackwork most mornings and gets to the farm a few times a week. 

Her first race ride came last October, a win aboard Nova Lights at Mornington, made all the more special by having family and friends from the UK there cheering her on. Since then, she’s ridden 20 winners and built a solid reputation, before a fractured wrist temporarily halted her progress in April. However, she used her injury layoff wisely, watching jumpouts, keeping up with her form, and staying physically active through deep water running and indoor cycling. “I like to stay mentally switched on too,” she said. “You have to be sharp in this sport and overcome the many challenges that tend to come with the job.” 

While Hateley knows she’s a little older than many of her peers, she says that only drives her to work harder, stay focused, and make the sacrifices the job demands. “Racing is my life,” she admits.  

This year’s Rising Stars contenders have shown that talent is just the starting point. What sets them apart is their work ethic, adaptability and a quiet hunger to succeed – qualities that will carry them far.