In the absence of most of their senior colleagues, apprentices have dominated the Canterbury meeting, none more so than James Innes jnr with a treble.
Saturday’s riding ranks were depleted with most of Sydney’s leading riders at the Gold Coast for the Magic Millions meeting.
Innes, who has moved back to Godolphin in Sydney after a stint with Peter Nestor at Dubbo, seized the opportunity.
“It’s been a great day. My best by far,” Innes said.
“I knew I had a good book of rides with the big boys out.
“I’m back with Godolphin. I had a great time with Peter Nestor at Dubbo and he taught me things I never thought to learn before.
“And John O’Shea and Darren Beadman at Godolphin are a big help to me so from now on it’s head down and bum up.”
Innes won on Mr Steal for Bjorn Baker, Mana for Craig Ritchie and the Todd Howlett-trained Esgrimidor.
Apprentices claimed eight of the nine races with Jess Taylor kicking off the trend on the David Payne-trained two-year-old French Fern.
Jess Taylor will be joining the senior ranks next week and made the most of her 3kg claim on the filly who carried 6.5kg less than runner-up Detective.
Embattled youngster Brodie Loy added his name to the winners’ list with victory on the Terry Robinson-trained Rose Of Man.
Loy will meet with officials next week to discuss his next step after a falling out with trainer David Pfieffer.
Taylor Marshall, Andrew Adkins and Samantha Clenton also added wins with Sam Clipperton upholding the reputation of the older riders with his win on the Chris Waller-trained Marenostro.
Waller’s representative Peter Muscutt said it was a deliberate move to put an experienced jockey on Marenostro who carried 59.5kg to beat stablemate, the Adkins-ridden Cauthen’s Power who had 53.5kg with the youngster’s claim.
“He is a horse that needs a senior rider,” Muscutt said.
“He can be quite lazy and he needs to be driven up so that’s where the experience comes in.”
