Apprentice Travis Wolfgram hopes to celebrate his 21st birthday with a homecoming win at Doomben.
Wolfgram, who reaches the milestone on Monday, makes his return to Brisbane Saturday racing aboard the talented Lucky Tom in the Rowlatt Buck Show Hcp (1200m).
One of Brisbane’s leading apprentices last season, Wolfgram has been riding in Sydney for the past six months.
He originally had a stint with Gai Waterhouse and then transferred to Ron Quinton.
“The experience was very worthwhile and I was also getting rides from Paul Perry and some other top trainers,” Wolfgram said.
“But I think with that under my belt it is the right time to come home.”
Wolfgram will complete the final 12 months of his apprenticeship with his mother Tracey on the Gold Coast.
“The apprentice ranks have thinned a bit in Brisbane at the moment and I still have my two kilogram claim,” he said.
“I am looking forward to getting back into Brisbane racing and Lucky Tom is a good way to start.”
Trainer Harold Norman was forced to find a replacement rider for Lucky Tom after the horse’s regular apprentice Rikki Jamieson broke her arm in a fall at Beaudesert on Sunday.
Jamieson, who is expected be sidelined for a month, has ridden Lucky Tom in 14 of his 15 starts including in last year’s Group One Caulfield Guineas.
“Travis is an experienced apprentice and he should suit Lucky Tom,” Norman said.
The race looks to be a program highlight at Doomben after trainer Lynn Tipper elected to run the smart Feltre.
Feltre, who was crowned metropolitan Horse of the Year at the recent Queensland Racing Awards, was also entered for two other events on the card.
Trainer Brendan Mackay has elected to back-up talented mare Nardoo after her defeat at Doomben last week.
“She had absolutely no luck at all in the straight,” Mackay said.
The race will also mark the return of multiple stakes placegetter Final Crescendo who has won two recent barrier trials in good style.
