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Future stars showcase Gatton meeting in Apprentice's Cup

15 October 2020

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Some of the State’s rising young apprentice stars will do battle when the Lockyer Valley Turf Club hosts the James O’Dwyer Memorial Apprentice Cup on Friday.

Leading metropolitan apprentices Justin Huxtable, Sheridan Tomlinson, Adin Thompson and Kate Cowan will lock horns with the State’s rising provincial stars including Minonette Kennedy, Isabella Rabjohns and Marnu Potgieter.

The battle for bragging rights looks wide open, but Toowoomba trainer Jenny Fraser is hopeful Potgieter can triumph on her in-form Studly Rooster in the 1400-metre feature.

Studly Rooster is chasing a hat-trick of wins for Potgieter, who was aboard the gelding in his two recent wins at Kilcoy and Gatton.

The eight-year-old led all the way to win a Class Three over 1400 metres at Gatton on September 5 then led again to win over 1500 metres at Kilcoy on September 18.

Fraser - a hobby trainer - has only a small team in work and had planned to retire Studly Rooster before his recent wins.

“I’ve got a real job as a quality assessment manager so I haven’t the time to train more than two horses,” she said.

“I was going to retire him before he won his last two starts.

“We bought him as a weanling for $1500 and he’s been a unique horse just like his name.

“We’ve ridden him forward and back in his races but for some reason Marnu has found the key to him.

“He’s been a difficult horse to train and I’ve got grey hair from him but he’s bred to get over further ground.”

Potgieter claims two kilograms on the TAB country circuit which will reduce Studly Rooster’s weight to 59.5kgs.

South African-born Potgieter is the State’s leading apprentice and has been based in Mackay with premier trainer John Manzelmann.

However, Potgieter - who landed a double at Townsville on Tuesday - is transferring his indentures to leading Eagle Farm trainer Brian Smith.