The resurrection of apprentice Josh Adams’ career moved forward another step with his victory aboard Embark at Rosehill.
It was the 19-year-old’s first Saturday city winner since he returned last month from serving a five-month ban for testing positive to an illegal substance after a night of partying following the Golden Slipper.
Despite missing more than the last two months of the season, Adams still had a substantial lead over his rivals in the apprentices’ premiership.
Embark, an all-the-way winner of the Sally Large Hcp (1300m) is trained by John Hawkes in partnership with his sons Michael and Wayne.
Adams said he was grateful for their continued support and that of his master Gerald Ryan.
“The Hawkes team have been solid,” Adams said.
“The five months away made me a more mature person.
“When you lose something you realise how much it means.
“I want to make every post a winner.”
Adams finishes his apprenticeship at the end of this season but if he wants to win another title he has a lot of ground to make up on the latest crop of young guns leading the charge – Chad Schofield, Sam Clipperton and Shaun Guymer.
Schofield, whose three-kilo claim was reduced to two during the week, rode two winners at Rosehill while his father Glyn was not to be outdone with a double of his own.
AAP TURF
