Rose Hammond finished equal second in the 2024/25 RMBL Investments Rising Stars Series, ending the season alongside Sarah Field on 40 points, while the pair trailed winner Tom Prebble on 42 points.
Hitting the ground running in the 2025/26 RMBL Investments Rising Stars Series, Hammond has landed back-to-back wins.
Taking on the series heat at Kilmore on Monday, September 29, the 23-year-old teamed up with the Greg Eurell-trained Hello Mary ($2.50), triumphing in the 1460m Benchmark 56 Handicap.
Riding for Matt Laurie at Kyneton on Thursday, October 9, Hammond rode Shaalute ($2.50) brilliantly when getting home for a thrilling victory in the 1203m Benchmark 62 Handicap.
It was a remarkable result for connections, with Hammond nearly thrown from the saddle as the 4YO Shalaa gelding knuckled down after leaving the barriers.
A noted on-pace runner, Shaalute then raced at the rear of the field before peeling wide on the home straight and getting home in the nick of time, winning by a flared nostril from early leader, Brooklyn Baby (Sarah Field, $8.50), while in third was the fast-finishing Affirmative Lad (Nadia Daniels, $8).
Shaalute has been racing well, winning four times from his past seven starts, and while the Mornington visitor did things the hard way at Kyneton, Hammond explained her mount had a good winning attitude.
“The plan was to lead, and unfortunately, coming out of the gates, he tripped on his own feet and nearly went over, but he picked back up, and he was travelling lovely,” Hammond said.
“I was just like, ‘I’ll keep him as relaxed as I can, and if we hit the line, that’s the best we can do’, but he was enormous coming home.
“The closer he got to them, the more determined he got; he put his ears back and luckily got over the line for me.”
If anything, Thursday’s win highlights the versatility of Shaalute, who might have a nice race in him down the track.
“He normally does race on pace, and I won on him two starts ago at Pakenham,” Hammond said.
“He was sitting on pace, but he did have a really nice turn of foot through the line and won by a couple of lengths, so I knew it was there, but that was quite impressive, and he is very versatile.”
Hammond and Laurie team up again tonight, with the apprentice’s three-kilogram claim set to come in handy as Genrichero (58.5kg after the claim) takes on the 2520m Benchmark 62 Handicap as a $6.50 chance.
Hammond then has one ride at Manangatang tomorrow, jumping aboard the Toby Lake-trained Holly’s Star($6.50, 53.5kg) in the $40,000 Manangatang Cup (2000m).
