Apprentice Maddy Cornick looking to become a better jockey and better person after joining Roy Rogers stable

Up and coming apprentice Maddy Cornick is looking to become a better jockey and better person after joining the Roy Rogers stable for the upcoming Great Southern racing season that starts this Sunday. Cornick will team up with the leading Great Southern trainer from last season as his stable apprentice. The 24-year-old started her apprenticeship with Ascot trainer Dion Luciani and will be on loan to Rogers for the Great Southern season. Cornick said she was looking forward to learning her craft on the grass. “I think it was always sort of the plan from my boss’ end to come down here,” she said. “Dion and Roy work very closely together and I have gotten to know Roy over the past couple of years since working for Dion. “So the idea was sort of just to get me started in the bush and then when Dion felt like I was ready for the grass to come here and as Dion likes to say ‘toughen me up a little bit’. “But it’s also just to learn so much more being someone that hasn’t got the racing background like some jockeys do. “It’s a completely different riding style from Perth so learning to ride different and harder horses and also try and progress as a jockey as well as riding at home on the track.” Cornick had her first race ride in June and has ridden five winners from 74 career rides including her first aboard Classy Lassy in Broome at her fifth start. She will have five rides on Sunday at the first meeting in the region. “I’m looking forward to the Great Southern season a lot. I have been very excited about it coming up,” she said. “Hopefully I come out of this 10 times better as a person.”