WA Maintains Lead In National Apprentice Series.

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Thoroughbred

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THOROUGHBRED

Queensland stole the honours, but Western Australia maintains its lead in the National Apprentice series after the third round of heats at Eagle Farm on Thursday.

Brisbane’s leading apprentice, Tiffani Brooker, grabbed local bragging rights after steering home, Dreams Aplenty to a 2 ¼ length victory over All That Is, ridden by Perth’s Randy Tan.

Brooker allowed Dreams Aplenty, who was sent out an odds on favourite, to angle across from a wide barrier and take up the front running duties from the 600m.

Tasmania’s Hayley McCarthy was back in third position aboard Mishani Sleuth.

Despite her victory Brooker heaped praise on Dreams Aplenty, who ran second in the Group 2 BRC Sires Produce Stakes last year.

Tan was attempting to give his adopted home state a winning trifecta in the National Apprentice Series after Mollie Clark won in Adelaide and Clint Johnston-Porter was successful in Melbourne.

Western Australia head the table on 19 points, nine points clear of Queensland with South Australian third on nine points.

Victoria are next with seven points and the Northern Territory and Tasmania are locked together with five points respectively.

The next batch of young riders will head to Hobart on March 22 before the final leg of the series is staged at Ascot on April 5.

Julio Santarelli