Sophie Logan is certainly making an impression as an apprentice jockey since moving from Leongatha to South Australia.
The hard-working 25-year-old made the move last year to chase her dream of becoming a professional jockey.
Indentured to Murray Bridge trainer and former jumps jockey Grant Young, the former Victorian picnic rider had her first professional ride on October 31, tasting success on the Young-trained Euro Gold.
Fast forward nine months, the emerging Logan has ridden 34 winners from 338 rides, most recently notching a double at Balaklava on Wednesday with the Young-trained Boris in Ossory ($3.20 favourite) and the Kevin and Heather Frew-trained Misty Halo ($21). 
Arguably the highlight so far was her victory on Lady Conquistador in the $50,000 Port Lincoln Cup on March 1.
“The Port Lincoln Cup was one of the biggest thrills of my career. It was quite a significant race and I was thrilled to win it.” she said.
“It’s on a par with my first professional winner. It was great to combine with Grant that day. He’s been brilliant and has taught me so much.”
“Grant and Lisa Young have also been so supportive, and my mum is easily my biggest supporter.”
A late starter to racing even though her father (Paul) was a jockey, Logan only began riding trackwork at the age of 18 but says she was “horse mad” as a child and enjoyed showjumping. 
Her late-devloping desire to be a jockey meant an early end to a hairdressing apprenticeship.
After gaining experience as a stable hand, track rider and strapper for a variety of trainers, Logan was successful in her application to join the highly rated Racing Victoria apprentice jockey program. 
The timing wasn’t quite right for Logan, who decided to take out a picnic jockey’s licence while continuing to ride trackwork freelance at Cranbourne. Her picnic career yielded 13 winners from 108 rides.
“I’d spent two years riding at the picnics and wanted to have a crack at being a jockey full time,” she recalled. “I’d heard South Australia is a great place for girls to start off, so I thought I’d come on over and give it a try.”
Injury ended Paul Logan’s career early, but his daughter is putting the name back in the spotlight.
Paul had a happy association with the Goff Jongebloed-trained Ritual Star, winning nine races on the gelding in the late 1980s and early ’90s, including back-to-back city wins at Moonee Valley and Caulfield. 
“He’s been out of the game for a while now but he’s really proud of me,” Sophie said.
Fall KOs Koby
Sydney-based Gippslander Koby Jennings is facing several months on the sidelines after being involved in a nasty trackwork fall at Warwick Farm last Wednesday.
A loose horse spooked the galloper Jennings was exercising, dislodging the talented hoop, and an errant hoof clipped his jaw.
Jennings, 24, sustained multiple fractures of the face including a fractured jaw and sinus, as well as a broken wrist. He was discharged from hospital the following day and won’t require surgery but will be out of racing for six to eight weeks.
Resting at home, Jennings is in good spirits.
“Usually the best part of being out injured, is you get to eat normally. The worst part of this injury is I ate a little today and it makes the jaw hurt.”
Jennings scored his biggest win in April, taking the $500,000 Provincial Championships Final at Randwick aboard Bobbing. 
After beginning his apprenticeship in Traralgon, Jennings had stints in Darwin and Canberra before making Sydney his home.
A winner of 237 races, 65 in town and two at listed level, Jennings has ridden 30-plus winners in each of the past six seasons, impressive numbers for a tall young fellow who can only ride at 56 kilograms and above.
Jennings says he prefers not to dwell on his constant weight battles, 
“If you think about it too much it just destroys your mind. The more you think about it, the more you stress. 
“The more you stress about, the worse things tend to go.”
Things were lean early in Jennings’s career. He took 35 rides to land his first winner, aboard the Cliff Murray-trained Bitey Horsey at Stony Creek on December 30, 2011.
But under the tutelage of Stephen Brown he blossomed in Darwin, before kicking plenty of goals in Canberra for the Jones/Joseph yard.  
Stables of the calibre of Hawkes Racing, Snowden Racing, Mark Newnham, Waterhouse/Bott, Godolphin have not hesitated to use Jennings when required.
The Hawkes family is currently his greatest supporter and a huge rap for the youngster.
“He’s a patient rider and has got great hands — that’s what it’s about,” co-trainer Michael Hawkes said.
“He has to work hard because he’s so tall but he’s a really good kid and has had a great grounding. 
“He lets his riding do the talking.”