TOP-CLASS apprentice jockey Annalise Cullen, who is enjoying a scintillating run of form, on Thursday launched the Bord na Mona Recycling Apprentice Derby, the most prestigious race for young apprentice jockeys which takes place next Friday June 25th, the opening day of the Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby weekend.

The race is also part of the Bord na Mona Recycling Future Stars Series which consists of five races in all which sees its finale in October.

Stepping stone

Many past winners of the prestigious Apprentice Derby have gone onto Group 1 glory and the race has proven to be a stepping stone to greater international success with the likes of former champion apprentice Gavin Ryan who won the race twice in the past and is also a Group 3 winner, Dylan Brown McMonagle who has come up through the ranks as a former pony racing champion jockey, Royal Ascot winning rider Ben Curtis, and National Hunt Galway Plate winner Mark Enright.

Annalise Cullen could have probably been a footballer for Kildare having represented the county at underage level, but having a father like former Cheltenham winning amateur jockey and now trainer Denis Cullen as well as a training great in her grandfather the late Michael O’Brien her destiny on the turf seemed sealed from her early years.

Curragh CEO Pat Keogh said “To have such strong support and recognition for our young riders who will be the future stars is very special and especially when it comes from a local company based in Kildare in Bord na Mona Recycling.”