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Hassman has day to remember at Ruakaka
Joshua Smith, LOVERACING.NZ News Desk • July 13th, 2026 3:34 pm
Apprentice jockey Hayley Hassman rode a winning treble at Ruakaka on Saturday. Photo: Therese Davis (Race Images)
Apprentice jockey Hayley Hassman had a day to remember at Ruakaka on Saturday, where she rode a winning treble, the second of her career.
“It was great to get those three wins and to do it for three small trainers was pretty sweet,” Hassman said.
The Matamata rider kicked off the day riding home Cowboy to record the first win for Cambridge trainers Maija Vance and Josh King, before striking again in the following race for Maija’s parents, Bob and Jenny Vance, aboard Nicconi County, and later on the day she took out the meeting’s feature, the Whangarei Gold Cup (2100m), aboard the Wayne Hillis and Reece Cole-trained Drop Of Something.
“That was a really dominant performance by Cowboy,” Hassman said. “He has always been there or thereabouts, he just hasn’t had the best of luck, but he put things together really nicely and he should go on with it.
“Nicconi County has always been up to that grade but he just over raced quite a bit in his past. The drop back to 65 grade got his confidence up and then he put away a 75 field quite nicely. He is a beautiful ride now and put things together well.
“It was so cool to ride Drop Of Something. Wayne is actually my landlord and he is always trying to book me and he finally got me, so it was really cool to get a win for him.
“I am going to ride him in the Taumarunui Cup, so it is great that I get to stick with him. He is another game horse.”
The treble brought Hassman’s season tally to 51 wins, drawing level with Sam McNab in third place on the apprentice jockey’s premiership, with Amber Riddell sitting at the top of the standings on 76 wins, with Elen Nicholas in second place with 59 wins.
All things considered, Hassman is pleased to be in her current position in her first season of riding in the professional ranks.
“I have spent a lot of time on the sideline with suspension and the injury from the Te Rapa fall, so to bounce back and get 50 wins in my first full season is a pretty cool feeling,” she said.
Hassman is hoping to add to her tally at Avondale on Wednesday, and she is particularly looking forward to riding Gin And Bare It in the Entain/NZB Insurance Pearl Series 3YOF (1200m), with the filly having won one and finished runner-up in two of her three starts to date.
“I am on Gin And Bare It of Kylie Fawcett’s, unfortunately Joe (Nishizuka, regular rider) got suspended but I am happy that she chose me to take his place on Wednesday, she looks like an exciting horse going forward.
“It is quite a nice race for her and the field is not overly strong, but competitive enough for her.”
Hassman is also looking forward to trekking south to New Plymouth on Saturday where she is excited to reunite with the Kim Reid-trained Hi Yo Fox Rox, who she won on at Wanganui last month.
“I won on her last start and she is going to a nice race this weekend,” Hassman said. “I am looking forward to sticking with her.”
