Apprentice jockeys in Gatton race feature
RACING: Some of Queensland’s most promising young jockeys will mix it with several of the state’s more experienced apprentice riders in a Gatton feature event at Burgess Park this afternoon.
The young riders meet in the James O’Dwyer Memorial Apprentice Jockey Cup Class 2 Plate over 1400 metres.
The event for apprentice jockeys only features on Lockyer Valley Turf Club’s sevenrace TAB card.
The apprentice line-up includes Saturday city performers Corey Bayliss and Jag Guthmann-Chester.
Their rivals include emerging Toowoomba 20-year-old Baylee Nothdurft and up-andcoming country claimer Adin Thompson who won this year’s Birdsville Cup aboard Miles gelding Blue Jest for his boss Bevan Johnson.
Thompson will partner Faolan for Clifford Park trainer Ben Currie while Nothdurft rides Miss Beneteau for Sunshine Coast trainer Natalie McCall.
“It will be fun, but also really competitive,” Nothdurft said.
“We are all at the same stage in our careers, it will be a battle of the best.”
Nothdurft has his first sit today on Miss Beneteau who is coming off a last-start Class 2 second at the Sunshine Coast over 1200 metres.
“It’s a very consistent horse .. and just off its recent form it looks to have a very good chance in the race,” Nothdurft said.
Nothurft nominated Foalan as one of the hardest to beat.
“It has drawn a bit (of a) tricky barrier, (but) I think if I can get out in front of it I don’t think it will beat me,” he said.
Today’s meeting will be the club’s final for 2018 before the Burgess Park track undergoes renovations.