Star Jockeys Take on Toughest Champions

Media Release - Tuesday February 26

Ahead of Sydney Autumn Racing and the Longines Golden Slipper Carnival at Rosehill Gardens, the Australian Turf Club has teamed up with renowned personal fitness trainer Trent Langlands to create Toughest Champions, inspired by the elite athleticism of two of Australia's star jockeys.

In a unique fitness test of three sporting codes, AFL player Isaac Heeney joined Olympic swimming great Cate Campbell and champion jockeys Kerrin McEvoy and Kathy O'Hara for the grueling Toughest Champions test.

Media personality Abbey Gelmi was mediator and host as two-time TAB Everest winner Kerrin McEvoy and multiple Group 1 winning Kathy O'Hara took on Isaac and Cate.

They were put through their paces with a series of balance, strength and endurance exercises. In a tight finish, Kathy O'Hara emerged as Toughest Champion.

Isaac Heeney said: "I really had no idea how hard jockeys train. I went into it feeling pretty confident.

"Kathy and Kerrin kicked it out of the park. Their agility, balance and strength is incredibly impressive and it's something I'm sure a lot of people weren't aware."

Cate Campbell added: "Being at my peak now, even I'm feeling the burn of their training regimes! With the exercises being so difficult, I have the highest respect for Kathy and Kerrin and can't wait to watch and cheer them on trackside at Longines Golden Slipper Day."

Spread across three exciting weekends in March, Rosehill Gardens is home to Chandon S Ladies Day (16 March) featuring the Harrolds Fashion Chute; Longines Golden Slipper Day (23 March) for the world's richest race for two year olds, the $3.5 million Longines Golden Slipper, and Australian rock legend Jimmy Barnes performing live; and Stakes Day (30 March) with an array of family friendly entertainment.

Focus turns to Royal Randwick for the tradition of Harrolds Australian Derby and The Star Doncaster Day on 6 April, part of $20 million in prizemoney to be won over two consecutive Saturdays.

Advertisement

April 13 culminates with the $4 million Longines Queen Elizabeth Stakes - a race which has been earmarked as the final ever run for the world's best horse Winx.

Australian Turf Club Chief Executive Jamie Barkley said: "Sydney Autumn Racing showcases some of Australian sport's toughest and fittest athletes – the jockeys.

"Along with the horses, these elite athletes are stars of the turf and we look forward to seeing them compete against the best Australian and international jockeys at Rosehill Gardens and Royal Randwick.

"Like our jockeys, Sydney racing is world-class and we host three of the top ten races in the world, unmatched by any other city or racing club anywhere in world racing.

"Home to world-class racing, fashion, hospitality and entertainment, the Australian Turf Club is excited to welcome everyone to some unforgettable racedays this autumn."

For more information on Sydney Autumn Racing and the Longines Golden Slipper Carnival and to watch theToughest Champions test and extended interviews, visit: theraces.com.au

Advertisment
More Reading...
Sale Cup Winner Adds to Fastnet Rock Super Weekend
It’s been quite the weekend for the late great champion sire Fastnet Rock with a Cox Plate quinella on Saturday and then on Sunday he produced a new stakes-winner when seven year-old gelding El Rocko captured the $200,000 Listed Sale Cup (1600m).
A Century of NZB National Yearling Sales Success: Cox Plate
Moonee Valley’s A$6m Group One WS Cox Plate (2040m) is known as the weight-for-age championship of Australasia and has been won by many of Australia and New Zealand’s greatest thoroughbreds.
Wootton Bassett Colt Leads Coolmore G1 Trifecta
The last British Group I race of the flat season was run overnight at Doncaster with Aidan O’Brien producing a trifecta of two year-old colts led by a son of the late Wootton Bassett (GB) in Hawk Mountain, who was too good for a pair of Frankel colts.
Undefeated 3YO King of Light Wins Listed Belgravia
Dan Morton's exciting three year old King Of Light (Earthlight) remains unbeaten in three starts, as the gelding graduated to stakes company with a scintillating first up victory in the Listed Belgravia Stakes on Cox Plate Day at Ascot.
Doubtland 2YO All On Red Smashes Them Again at Ascot
Widden Stud's Doubtland has a potential 2YO topliner in Perth in the shape of exciting WA colt All On Red, who remains undefeated from two starts after another comprehensive Ascot Saturday win.
Hi Yo Sass Bomb Wins G3 on Sunday
Kim Reid bypassed a Group One in favour of Sunday’s Gr.3 Gee and Hickton Funeral Directors Thompson Handicap (1600m) at Trentham with Hi Yo Sass Bomb, a decision that paid dividends when the mare led from the outset to claim her third stakes success.
Sires With Winners - Saturday October 25
Here is the full list of 136 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Pedigree Watch - Powerhouse Godolphin 3YOs Dominate
The current crop of three year-olds running for Godolphin lay claim to being the best they have ever produced in Australia and three of those colts won Group races in Australia on Saturday so let’s take a look at those pedigrees.
Early Return Home for Cogburn
Group I winning Not This Time son Cogburn (USA) will return to WinStar Farm in Kentucky earlier than planned after disappointing fertility results during his first Australian covering season at Widden Stud.
Second Wootton Bassett Son Added to Coolmore Stallion Roster for 2026
Set to join Camille Pissarro as the second G1 winning son of Wootton Bassett on the stallion roster for Ireland in 2026 is Henri Matisse, who this time last year was about to claim his first G1 victory at the Breeders Cup meeting at Del Mar.