Leading Rocky Apprentice wins the Ladies Bracelet in Townsville

Callaghan Park apprentice jockey McKenzie Apel, an impressive ladder climber this year, travelled to Townsville on the weekend and teamed with her boss Ricky Vale to win the Ladies Bracelet (1300m) at Cluden, on promising mare Pipistrelle.

Apel – who hails from Gin Gin just outside of Bundaberg – has really made her mark in Central Queensland since making her debut ride on the Vale trained Class of Royalty in Mackay, just over two years ago.

It took Apel just six rides to get her first winner and it was a big one, riding Namazu to victory for Vale in the HL Black Memorial during the 2023 Mackay Cup Carnival.

Wins followed at Thangool, Emerald and Middlemount before the end of that season. A string of wins including major country track successes followed before Apel posted her first Callaghan Park win, riding Early Fusion for Vale last November.

This season has been a hallmark one for Apel, with only Justin Stanley currently in front of her on the RJC jockey premiership table.

Stanley has a huge lead, but Apel and the senior riders Ryan Wiggins and Sean Cormack sit in second place with 15 wins.

With those numbers and just one Callaghan Park race meeting remaining in the 2024/25 season, Apel also looks to have the RJC apprentice jockey title in the bag.

Apel initially moved to Rockhampton for boarding school after competing in show jumping during her teenage years – that is where she got the idea to pursue a career in the racing industry.

Her pairing with Vale has been a winning one.

Pipistrelle wins the Bracelet in a romp

Pipistrelle looked impressive in Townsville striding away to win the $25,000 Bracelet, a Class 6 for Fillies and Mares by over two lengths. Pipistrelle was the $2.00 equal favourite and defeated outsiders Brave Maso and Diamond Lucy.

The mare by Group 2 Mill Reef Stakes winner Ribchester from Flying was purchased from Godolphin at an online sale in June 2024. Since then, she has won six races in Central and North Queensland including three features –Cairns Daintree Guineas, Mackay NQ Classic, and the Townsville Ladies Bracelet. Apel has been in the saddle for three of Pipistrelle’s wins including two of the features.

Pipistrelle’s win was the second leg of a winning double for Apel at Cluden. She also partnered the Georgie Holt-trained Time To Prophet to win the QTIS 2YO and 3YO Handicap (1000m). Time To Prophet was a $19.00 longshot and defeated Blue Stratum and Almighty Jab.

Rockhampton’s Ash Butler also had a winner in Townsville. He rode Whatta Mission for Georgie Holt in the Maiden Plate (1200m). Whatta Mission just got home over the Callaghan Park filly Desarae Doll, trained by Clinton Taylor, with She’s A Sweet Star in third place.

David Aldred CEO