Coffs Harbour apprentice Cody McPherson hopes to emulate the feat of boyfriend Nick Perrett and ride her first city winner at Eagle Farm on Wednesday.
McPherson, 19, is on loan to Coffs Harbour trainer Gordon Yorke and will have only her second Brisbane ride aboard Pin in the Sequalo@Lyndhurst Stud Handicap (1600m).
McPherson, who has ridden 49 winners in NSW, began her apprenticeship with Sydney trainer Kevin Moses before deciding to seek more opportunities on the NSW country circuit.
“Nick (Perrett) has been with me for about 12 months and Cody decided to trial with me after looking around the country regions,” Yorke said.
“Cody has been with me for almost two months and will soon transfer to me permanently.
“I think she’s got a good future and I’ve had a lot of luck teaching kids.
“I’m a hard taskmaster and I take the kids to the next level. I think Cody can get to the next level as she’s keen and hungry.”
Perrett, 20, started his apprenticeship with Pat Farrell at Muswellbrook before joining Yorke 12 months ago.
“Cody and Nick have ridden the same number of winners, 49,” Yorke said.
“She can ride any weight. I give her extra exercises like I do with Nick to strengthen her.
“You can see how strong Nick was at the finish when he won on Moneysaver at Doomben on Saturday.”
While having two apprentices who are in a relationship is rare for any trainer, Yorke believes the friendly rivalry will be a positive.
“Nick has a lot of problems with his weight and when Cody came to me I told them they’d be hungry for each other’s money,” Yorke said.
“I told Nick he could ride my higher-weighted horses and Cody would get the rides on the lighter ones.”
McPherson had her first metropolitan ride in Brisbane when finishing third on Pin in a 1650-metre Class 6 on a heavy track at Doomben on March 24.
Yorke is buoyed by a forecast for rain.
“Pin is going well. Up until the barrier draw I thought she’d win but she’s drawn barrier 13 tomorrow,” Yorke said.
“The draw will make it harder but I still think Cody is good enough to overcome it and win.”
