Cassidy Hill will make her race-riding debut at Seymour on Friday when jumping aboard Flycatcher for her master, Craig Weeding.

The 6YO Wangaratta-trained gelding has drawn gate seven in the 1100m Class One Handicap, and Hill explained that she was looking forward to the opportunity.

“I’m very excited; a little bit nervous as well, but mostly excited,” Hill said.

“I’ve ridden him a bit in trackwork, so I know him pretty well, and he will look after me; he is a nice, quiet horse as well.”

The 21-year-old has been given every opportunity by Weeding to be ready to race at Seymour.

“I’ve ridden in about 40 trials, and that has given me confidence in myself and my riding ability,” Hill said.

“It’s been good to get a bit more confident being in my race gear and around more horses.

“Things like being boxed in and learning more have prepared me to go to the races. I am really happy that Craig made me wait before going to the races.”

The young hoop is surrounded by talented riders at Weeding Racing, including Craig, and jockeys such as Jake Duffy, Hannah Edgley, Rob Kirkpatrick, Justin Stanley, and Sarah McDonough.”

“They’ve been a great support and helped me every day,” Hill said.

“Even going from the gallops to jump outs and trials, they have been there to answer questions and offer advice.”

Hill isn’t setting the bar too high ahead of her debut and wants to do everything right.

“I just want to get around,” Hill said.

“I’m not too fazed if I win or not; I want to get around safely and show everyone I am capable of being out there.”

A graduate of the Racing Victoria Rider Development Squad (RDS) and the pre-apprenticeship program, Hill will then back up at Narrandera on Saturday, taking her second-ever ride on the Weeding-trained Oimbari in the 1400m Benchmark 50 Handicap.

From everyone at the Weeding Racing team, good luck, Cassidy.

Words/Image: Jeff Hanson

Weeding Racing finished season 2024/25 on a high note, with the stable scoring eight winners from its past 35 starters, including an incredible five winners in July.

On many fronts, 2024/25 was Craig’s best season as a trainer, registering a career-high 55 winners, earning a career-high $1,405,345 in prizemoney, and training at a career-best 13.9% strike-rate.

Our ability to perform across Victoria and NSW is a testament to the class of horse in the Weeding Racing stable and the efforts of our large, hard-working team, led by Craig and stable forewoman, Dannii French.

The team has also been lucky to call upon many good jockeys throughout the season, winning races with Jake Duffy (33), Hannah Edgley (6), Justin Stanley (5), Sarah McDonough (3), Milos Bunjevac (2), Linds Meech, John Kissick, Sam Noble, Rob Kirkpatrick, Luke Cartwright and Brad Vale.  

Jake Duffy, who is integral to our operation, has also enjoyed his best-ever season, landing 74 winners, earning just shy of $2 million in prizemoney, and riding at a career-best 13.3% strike rate.

Not one to look at the past, but instead, focus on the future, Craig, with the support of his fantastic team, is excited to kick off season 2025/26 and build on a great platform of results.

Image: Racing Photos
Words: Jeff Hanson

The Weeding Racing team continues to fire on all cylinders as we round out the 2024/25 season.

With 54 wins to the stable’s name (13.8%) and earnings just shy of $1.4 million, this has been Weeding Racing’s best season since Craig commenced his training career in 2016.

Recently, the Wangaratta stable has been piling up the victories, with Weeding training nine winners from his past 50 starters.

On Friday, Weeding sent stable representative Alex McDonald on a 12-hour round-trip to Mildra with Make It Sweet.

Taking on the $60,000 Benchmark 70 Handicap (2000m), the four-year-old Fiorente mare had Linda Meech in the saddle and proved to be a class above her rivals, winning by 1.5 lengths.

Leading into the race, Make It Sweet had been racing in town and ran into the red-hot Jimmy The Bear when beaten just over two lengths in the 2000 Gold Heath at Caulfield on July 12.

That form held up well at Mildura as Make It Sweet took her career record to 18:5-5-2 and career earnings to $168,450.

The Weeding Racing team will continue their end-of-season charge at Corowa on Thursday and Echuca on Friday.

Words: Jeff Hanson
Image: Racing Photos