State Honours For Casey
29 February, 2016
Thoroughbred
Jake Casey will represent Western Australia in the first leg of the National Apprentice Challenge at Sandown on Thursday.
Casey will partner the Robert Griffiths-trained Flying Geepee, a Flying Spur three-year-old who is returning from a spell.
The gelding, who has drawn the widest gate in the field of ten, has one win and three placings from 10 career starts.
Off one warm up trial, he make his first official appearance since he ran 14th of 16 to Extra Choice in last year’s Geelong Classic (2200m).
Casey claimed his 17th city win for the season at Ascot on Saturday, steering home, Ready To Fire, for trainer, Justin Warwick.
He trails Clint Johnston-Porter (25) and Lucy Warwick (25) in the Leading Apprentice Award.
The interstate riders represented in the opening heat are:
James Orman, 18-Queensland: One of the rising stars of the Queensland riding ranks, Orman has registered nearly 500 winners in his three years in the saddle, 64 of which have been at metropolitan level.
Raquel Clark, 23-Tasmania: Indentured to popular trainer Barry Campbell, Clask has made quite an impression in her two years in the saddle and currently sits third on the Tasmanian Jockey Premiership.
Zac Spain, 19-South Australia: Spain will be representing South Australia for the second time, having also taken part in Alice Springs. After notching his maiden Melbourne metro winner at Moonee Valley last year, Spain will be eager to add to his career tally of 71 winners.
Victorian apprentice jockeys Jye McNeil, Harry Coffey, Michael Dee, Dylan Dunn, Patrick Moloney and Joradn Childs will represent the home state as the top six riders on the Victorian Jockeys Premiership.
The National Apprentice challenge continues at Doomben (March 9), Launceston (March 23), Ascot (April 20) and Murray Bridge (May 4).
Julio Santarelli