Apprentice Melissa Julius has made the most of her opportunity to ride Miles Of Krishan for the Lindsay Park stable, taking out the Rising Stars Final to notch her first Flemington win.
Saturday’s Rising Stars Final (1700m) was the culmination of a season-long series of 22 apprentice-only races across Victoria.
While Julius celebrated her first Flemington win, a second-placed finish on Ma Jones was enough for Melbourne’s leading apprentice Ethan Brown to take out the Rising Stars Series.
Points were awarded on a 12-6-4-2-1 basis for top five finishes in the respective races.
Brown’s six points on Ma Jones took him to 59 to overhaul Stephanie Thornton (57) who could not add to her tally on $4.20 favourite So Splendid, who finished sixth.
Brown received a $6000 retail voucher and trophy as the series winner.
Julius said a few things fell in her favour to even get the ride on Miles Of Krishan for Hall of Fame trainer David Hayes and co-trainers Ben Hayes and Tom Dabernig.
The mare’s regular rider, apprentice Fred Kersley, is sidelined with a shoulder injury.
“I was just so excited at the opportunity and to get on a mare of this quality,” Julius said.
“This was my first ride for Hayes and to do it in this big a race, to get my first Flemington win, it’s incredibly special.”
Julius had to angle into the clear from behind the leaders early in the straight on Miles Of Krishan ($5.50) before edging past Ma Jones ($10) late in the race to win by a short neck.
Linguist ($8.50) was another 1-1/4 lengths away third.
