Nothdurft prepares to make city debut
Toowoomba apprentices to break new ground
RACING: Emerging Toowoomba apprentice Baylee Nothdurft takes a timely career step when he has his first metropolitan ride today at Doomben.
Nothdurft’s city riding debut includes partnering Barefoot Tycoon for Gold Coast trainer David Fletcher in the Racezone Apprentices Race Class 3 Plate (1350m).
The event is for invited apprentice riders only.
Nothdurft’s fellow Downs’ apprentices Sally Sweeney and Michael Schrapel will also line up in the 13-horse field.
Sweeney partners Mr Markou for Toowoomba trainer Ben Currie while Schrapel teams with Ipswich trainer Lincoln Shayler aboard Adjourned.
Nothdurft earned today’s Doomben invitation late last week after being granted an upgraded restricted midweek metropolitan licence.
He also rides the Currietrained Pure Pulse in today’s Two-Year-Old Maiden Plate.
Nothdurft and Sweeney are coincidentally managed by Kylie Nolan who said both riders were looking forward to their first ride on the famous Doomben track.
“Sally has ridden a couple of midweek metro winners at Ipswich but this is her first time riding at Doomben and she’s pretty excited about it,” Nolan said.
“This is Baylee’s first metropolitan ride after he was finally granted a restricted city licence and it’s come at a good time.
“He has only two more wins before he loses his provincial claim, which is a really good ef- fort in a fairly short time.
“He’s waited a while to get his chance in town but it has worked out well for him.”
Meanwhile former leading Toowoomba apprentice Emma Ljung is scheduled to make her senior riding debut at Doomben today after completing her indentures yesterday.
Ljung will partner first starter Eye Stopper for Toowoomba trainer Tony Sears in the TwoYear-Old Maiden Plate.
Ljung was successful aboard Studly Rooster on her final day riding as an apprentice at Clifford Park last Saturday.
Photo: Nev Madsen