Baylee Nothdurft has a golden chance to put more pressure on leader Jim Byrne as he aims to become the first apprentice in 16 seasons to win the Queensland senior jockeys premiership.
Apprentice riders have won the senior metropolitan title eight times but none has been successful since Zac Purton in 2002/2003.
Nothdurft is currently second on 29-1/2 winners behind Byrne on 33 but has a strong book of rides at Doomben on Saturday.
He has rides in eight of the nine races including key chances Rock Beat (Benchmark 78), Man To Match (Hamilton Hotel Hcp) Macewan (Class 6) and Ready to Roam (Winning Rupert Plate).
Nothdurft has bloomed since leaving Toowoomba in August to join leading trainer Tony Gollan at Eagle Farm.
He is getting many top rides from Gollan but also getting chances from other leading stables including Matt Dunn’s Magic Millions 2YO Classic hope Lady Banff.
“It is far too early to be talking about premierships but as I have said if Baylee keeps working hard he can go a long way,” Gollan said.
Gollan effectively has his seventh straight premiership wrapped up after just a third of the season.
He leads on 43-1/2 from Dunn on 17.
