Nothdurft seals state title
‘‘ RIDING SIX WINNERS IN ONE DAY WAS PRETTY SPECIAL FOR ME. BAYLEE NOTHDURFT
Toowoomba apprentice Baylee Nothdurft is not sure whether to be celebrating or cursing after notching a career milestone.
Nothdurft this week claimed victory in the 2017/18 Queensland provincial apprentice premiership after piloting 50 season winners but currently he is far from the limelight sitting stranded on the injury bench.
Nothdurft broke his wrist at the Gold Coast on July 14 which brought an early end to his racing year and threatened his premiership bid.
But his then six-win lead over second-placed Jackson Murphy proved to be more than enough to clinch the title at the end of what proved a roller-coaster season for him.
Nothdurft’s wrist fracture did not require surgery and he is aiming for a return to race riding around the end of next month when he will be looking to cash in on his latest career achievement with Brisbane his next target.
“It’s pretty frustrating ending the season injured but it’s good to win the premiership,” Nothdurft said.
“Especially after I missed about three months of the season suspended.
“But there have been a lot of highlights for me through the year.
“Riding six winners in one day was pretty special for me and riding my first metropolitan winner was another season highlight and out-riding my provincial claim too.
“I’ve had good support around me and now I want to build on that when I get back.
“I hope things like winning the premiership helps me get noticed a bit more by Brisbane trainers and my next goal is to finish in the top-three apprentices in town.
“I’ve just got to work hard now at getting back.
“My wrist is fractured in two places but the breaks are pretty stable.
“I’ll have my arm in a cast for six weeks and after two weeks physio I should be right to start riding again.”
Nothdurft also finished last season’s leading Clifford Park apprentice with 25 home-track victories.
Nothdurft’s fellow Clifford Park apprentices Nick Keal and Rebecca Goldsbury also figured in last season’s top-10 provincial list.
Keal, who is also on the injured list, finished fifth on the state apprentice list with 33 wins while Goldsbury rode 271⁄2 winners to finish ninth.
Rounding out a successful year for Toowoomba apprentices was Emma Ljung’s Ipswich Turf Club premiership win.
Ljung took out the title in her final apprentice year before becoming a senior rider in June based at Clifford Park.