How Good Hayley!

Hayley Hassman is among excellent company as a Te Akau apprentice jockey, and is certainly making the most of her opportunities.  We could not be more proud of her season.

Te Akau principal Sir David Ellis has always promoted young people in the Thoroughbred Industry and while former apprentice Opie Bosson ONZM heads the list of star jockeys – having reached an incredible milestone of 100 Group One wins – there are a lot of success stories.

Hassman joins a growing list of apprentice jockeys that Ellis has helped on their way, including: Opie Bosson, Vinnie Colgan, Troy Harris, Samantha Collett, Daniel and Emma Stackhouse, KC Walters, Shafiq Rusof, Amber Edmeads, Michael Dee, Kif Toh, Daniel Miller, Jasmine Fawcett, Chelsea Burdan, Tegan Newman, Wiremu Pinn, Dennis Tan, Joe Kamaruddin, Nik Bakar, Niranjan Parmar, Hakim Kamaruddin, Yusoff Fadzli, Jess Allen, and most lately Cooper Stumbles.

Twenty-year-old Hayley Hassman sits 11th on the Jockey Table this season, and third leading apprentice, with 55 wins and over $1.5 million in stakes money earnings.

Hassman rode a treble of winners on 11 July at Ruakaka, and added a double on 19 July Oamaru. 

To the eye of many, Hassman has sharply honed her skills over the past 12 months, reflected in the way she rides, enabling that number of wins, while doing so with a terrific overall demeanor, professionalism, and work ethic, that enhances jockeyship in New Zealand.

“Hayley has had an extraordinarily good season and to ride over 50 winners is a real credit to her,” said Mark Walker, training partner with Sam Bergerson. 

“Ted McLachlan has done an outstanding job with her as jockey manager, organizing her rides, and providing that 'Ted wisdom' of experience. Hayley has great attitude, work ethic, and we’ve really concentrated on getting her practiced being able to use the whip in each hand and she’s perfected that during the season.

“I think she’ll go to another level next season. She places her horses perfectly throughout the running of a race. She can ride light, she’s fit, and she’s diligent. She’s got a great future ahead of her.”

Winner of the Toby Autridge Trophy for Most Promising First Year Apprentice at The Milan Park 2025 (Northern Region) Apprentice Jockey Awards, Hassman was accepted in the first intake for the Elite Jockey Programme (EJP).

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.

Hassman attributes factors such as experience, improved technique, thought processes, and quality horses, to her success, while quick to point out the benefits of the Elite Jockey Programme.

“We have a sports' physiologist in the Elite Jockey Programme, Dr. Rod Corban, and he’s someone we’ve all been talking to about the way the mind works and the best ways to think about what we do,” Hassman said.

“Having such good mentors and good support system has been a massive help. I’ve been riding all over New Zealand, so the experience of travelling and continued race day rides is one of the major factors, along with all the support from everyone. 

“It’s probably most competitive in the Northern part of the North Island, but it’s also been great to ride at courses in the Central Districts and South Island.

“It’s great working for Te Akau and being able to ride track work with Opie (Bosson) and all the other top track riders, they’re great horsemen, and going over each of my race day rides, and upcoming rides, with Sam (Bergerson). 

“My technique has changed a lot throughout the season. I’m a lot stronger and more vigorous, and I think a lot of that is because of the personal training I do with Maree Blakey at the gym they’ve built at Apprentice School.

“I’ve experimented with the length of the stirrups, where I’m most comfortable and where I feel the strongest, so I’m getting to a point, now, where it all feels a lot more natural. It’s just about fine tuning, trying to get to the next level.

"I find that now, even in track work, I don’t struggle as much as I used to on some of the stronger horses. 

“The biggest factor, though, is the quality of horses that I’m getting on to ride. It’s huge, you can’t lift them and make a slow horse go fast.

“I loved winning on Savoir Faire (Savabeel) at Matamata and Pukekohe, in February and March, they were both thrilling wins, because we were blocked with nowhere to go at the 200m and then a tiny gap appeared and he was right there.

“Next season I want to be there with the best, senior, jockeys, hopefully competing more on the big days at Ellerslie. That would be pretty cool, but, otherwise, I just want to improve my tactics and try to ride every horse as best I can. If I can keep the horses happy and in a good rhythm then I should get better results. 

“It’s a great industry, like a big family, and I love all the people involved, meeting the owners, and all the support I’m getting.”