Rising star Jacob Opperman’s dedication and attitude have seen him become the first apprentice jockey to earn a Carbine Club of South Australia scholarship.
Opperman will receive $3000 from the sports-orientated luncheon club, to be presented at a racing-themed event this Friday, on the eve of Goodwood Day at Morphettville.
The SA club has previously provided scholarships exclusively to young cricketers or Aussie rules players.
Mount Gambier-based Opperman only began race riding last year and last Saturday competed in his first Group 1 event, aboard Royal Mile in the 2500m SA Derby at Morphettville
Carbine Club of South Australia secretary Neville Mead said the 17-year-old hoop embodied the qualities the initiative aimed to recognise.
“It’s about our desire to help out young people coming through the ranks,” Mr Mead said.
“One of the reasons we picked Jacob for this was his dedication.
“He’s got to travel a fair bit to maintain his craft and we thought a country lad coming to Adelaide twice a week would probably find it a bit harder than others.
“All (nominees) would be worthy winners, but there’s only one scholarship per year.
“And this is the first time we’ve done an apprentice scholarship.”
The Carbine Club started in Melbourne in 1961, while the Adelaide-based club was established in 1983. Mr Mead said the local club started presenting scholarships “a few years ago” at the suggestion of immediate past secretary, John Condon OAM.
“We rely on the industry itself to nominate a panel of apprentice jockeys who they think are worthy of a scholarship and who has the right aims,” he said.
In addition to hosting four sports-themed functions per year, the Carbine Club of South Australia also helps raise money for charities via its luncheons, which have regular attendances of between 440 to 600 people,
The upcoming Adelaide luncheon will be held on Friday, May 14. As part of the event, Racing SA is providing signed Jamie Kah riding caps for each table, to be raffled off to raise money for the Make-A-Wish Foundation.
Named after the Melbourne Cup winner of 1890, Carbine clubs have been established – mainly by expatriate Aussies – in all Australian capital cities and across the world, including New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Hong Kong, South Africa, London, Dubai, Vanuatu, Tokyo and Singapore
“The club is about sport and good fellowship,” he said.
In addition to the pre-Goodwood function, the Carbine Club of SA has annual luncheons before the Adelaide Test match and SANFL grand final, and formerly the Adelaide Supercars event.
