Page helping turn new leaf for hoop
TRAINER Helen Page believes everyone deserves a second chance, and that’s why she has thrown troubled champion apprentice jockey Luke Tarrant a career lifeline.
Tarrant, hailed as one of Australia’s best young riders in 2014-15, makes his return to racing at the Gold Coast today after a troubled eight months.
The 22-year-old was banned from riding by stewards for six months in De- cember after testing positive to a cocaine derivative.
Property and drug charges against Tarrant are set for hearing at Caloundra Magistrates Court on December 9.
He intends to plead not guilty to five of the six charges against him.
“He has ridden a lot of good winners for me and has had a troublesome period in his life and made some bad choices but he deserves a second chance,” the Gold Coastbased Page said.
“I admire his ability. He is a talented rider, although he still has a long way to go.
“He has got the gift but he has got to put everything into the right direction.”
Page has booked Tarrant to make his comeback on her unraced gelding Excalibrator in the RACQ Handicap (900m) for three-year-olds at the Gold Coast today.
Tarrant and Page have a successful association.
The young apprentice partnered the Page-trained Rudy to win the Group 2 Villiers Stakes at Randwick in December 2014.
A month later he scored a stunning win on Le Chef for Sunshine Coast trainer Darryl Hansen in the $2 million Magic Millions 2YO Classic at the Gold Coast. The world was at his feet. He went on to win stakes races for high-profile Sydney trainers Chris Waller and Clarry Conners during the 2015 Queensland winter carnival.
He won the Brisbane apprentice jockeys premiership in 2014-15 and also finished second in the senior premiership in the same season.
Five months later his career was in ruins.
Tarrant’s ban expired last month and his application to ride again was approved by the Queensland Racing Integrity Commission last Friday.
He marked his impending return to the saddle earlier in the year with a post on Instagram with the tag #guesswhoseback #startingfromthebottom.
The climb back begins today in a $14,000 race at the Gold Coast.
His mount Excalibrator goes into the race as the winner of two barrier trials at the Gold Coast. In the latest, the gelding won easily in a 1000m trial on August 2.