Three of Queensland’s most exciting apprentices will hit the track over the next month in a boost to the Sunshine State’s riding ranks.
Angela Jones will start her first race at Dalby on Saturday when she pilots the Mark Currie-trained Miss Charlee Lyn in the first event of the day, before Cody Collis takes to the saddle in Gladstone on Melbourne Cup Day.
Zac Lloyd, the son of legendary hoop Jeff, has pencilled in the Beaudesert meeting on November 19 as his first start with RQ apprentice coach Shane Scriven saying there was a lot to look forward to amongst the trio.
“It’s great to see such exciting talent being developed here in Queensland, it will certainly ensure that our riding ranks will be held in good stead for some time to come,” Scriven said.
“The day you ride in your first race is one that you never forget, and it’s an exciting time ahead for these three rising stars over the coming weeks.
“For Racing Queensland, it is exciting to produce the next generation of apprentice jockeys and wish them all a safe and fast start to their racing careers.”
The 19-year-old Jones will kick off her debut with three rides at Dalby, partnering the Ross Coveney-trained Toecanargie Man in the third, and Jim Hanna’s By The Law in fifth and final event of the card.
Jones will serve her apprenticeship under one of Toowoomba’s premier trainers in Lindsay Hatch, a once talented jockey himself.
This year’s edition of the Melbourne Cup will be one that 17-year-old Cody Collis won’t soon forget, saddling up at Gladstone for his debut on the first Tuesday in November under the guidance of astute Rockhampton trainer Fred Smith.
The eagerly awaited raceday debut of Zac Lloyd is only weeks away, apprenticed to the leading Gold Coast-based training partnership of Toby and Trent Edmonds.
As Lloyd approaches the final stages of his senior schooling education, he has been busy at work finetuning his riding skills, however, it would appear his father, an 18-time premiership winner across the globe, has been less than co-operative in offering up his own advice.
“I must admit I was very nervous about offering advice to Zac, especially considering his old man Jeff is a Hall of Famer, but Jeff said to me ‘I don’t want him riding like me’ so we may have to go down another route,” Scriven said.