For Hammond, 20, this is her first Echuca Cup meeting as an apprentice jockey.
“I’ve been to a few through the years, mostly as a strapper for the horses, but this is the first time for me to get out on the track,” she said.
“I’m really excited to be out there, it is actually the first meeting for me in Echuca since I became an apprentice.
“It is going to be great to get the chance to ride in front of friends and family, as well as the rest of the big crowd, the atmosphere will be great.”
The Tongala local, who is apprenticed to Echuca trainer Gwenda Johnstone, is in the formative stages of her riding career.
Hammond made her debut in late November and has had 43 rides for two winners and four minor placings.
Her first winner came at Kerang aboard Bon Shadow for the Johnstone team and she combined with fellow Echuca trainer Rhys Archard to win aboard Limbering in early January.
“I was starting to build up some good momentum,” she said.
“But I’ve recently spent four weeks off due to a concussion and getting back into the swing of things again.”
Hammond has two rides on the Echuca Cup Day program, Lika Swift in the Murphy’s Turf and Landscaping Maiden and evergreen sprinter Pravro in the Perricoota Station Shadoways Sprint, both trained by her boss Johnstone.
“Swifty hasn’t had much luck in his past two starts, but we’ve drawn a gate, so hopefully he can get a good uninterrupted run and show his best,” she said.
“I’m excited to ride Pravro for the first time in a race, I know him pretty well from trackwork.
“It is a special race being the Shadoways Sprint, named in honour of Mick and Gwenda’s great horse.”
Hammond is among the new breed of young apprentices making their mark on the Victorian scene, a list which includes the likes of Tom Prebble, Ryan Houston, Dakotah Keane and Emily Pozman.
“We follow each other’s progress and we’re all in a group chat together,” she said.
“We also head to school in Melbourne once a month.
“It is a privilege to have the likes of the ‘Gauch’ (Darren Gauci) and Alf Matthews to teach and guide you along the way, they are so knowledgeable about everything there is to know about being a jockey.
“On racedays, Tahlia Hope is another who has helped me a lot and given me great feedback on how I’m riding.”
Hammond is set for a big weekend, travelling to Corowa on Saturday for two rides before backing up at Echuca.
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