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Sophie Logan: From picnics to prime time

She’s already notched up winners in Woolamai, Healesville and Ballnaring but on Wednesday SA’s newest SA UBET Apprentice Academy recruit Sophie Logan will be hoping to add Naracoorte to that list.

Logan, 24, is no stranger to the horse racing game at all after spending the last two years on the Victorian picnic racing circuit but all of that means nothing as she steps out in the big leagues on Wednesday.

A self-confessed last starter to racing, Logan only began track work riding at the age of 18 at Cranbourne but had always had horses from a young age, starting off in show jumping.

Across her picnic racing career Logan rode 13 winners from 108 starts but wanted more from her career in the saddle.

“I’d spent two years riding at the picnics and wanted to have a crack at being a jockey full-time. I’d heard South Australia is a great place for girls to start off their careers so I thought I’d come on over and give it a try.”

Six months later after moving across from the small town of Bass, which is not too far from Phillip Island, Logan has setup her new life in Murray Bridge under the care of Grant Young.

Logan’s relished the new opportunity and is working hard riding around 15 horses at track work each morning.    

“Grant’s been brilliant. He’s taught me so much in such a short amount of time. He’s awesome.”

“I’ve really enjoyed the work and for me working full-time in racing is what I really want.”

Riding is in Logan’s blood with her father an ex-jockey, who unfortunately had his career cut-short after a bad fall but that hasn’t deterred Sophie one bit.

“It doesn’t worry me at all. He’s been out of the game for a while now but he’s really proud of me.”

“Grant and Lisa Young have also been really supportive and my mum is easily my biggest supporter.”

Logan will head back towards her native Victoria on Wednesday when she debuts at Naracoorte and is booked in to ride four of her boss’s horses, Euro Gold, Pandeia, Rock on Ivy and Sir Charleston.

“They’re all really nice horses and I’ve done lots of work with all of them. I’m just really excited and can’t wait to get out there!” 

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