THE Queensland leg of the National Apprentices Series, now in its second year, returns to the Gold Coast Turf Club on Wednesday, March 10.

At the conclusion of the national series, the state which has accumulated the most points in the series will receive the National Apprentice Series Cup.

The Gold Coast leg, once again sponsored by the Queensland Government’s Department of Education and Training, features the following apprentices nominated by their states:

State	Apprentice	Weight & Provincial Claim	Winners Metro/Prov/ Other	Trainer
WA	Talia Maor	50kg  3kg	4-9-40	Fred Kersley
SA	Tillie Neve	50kg  2kg	17-26-33	Leon MacDonald
VIC	Jarrod Fry	54kg  0kg	19-118-20	Darren Weir
NSW	Emily Kehoe	50kg  3kg	0-9-52	Kevin Nipperess
NT	Scott Hillebrand	53kg  1.5kg	0-66-25	Stephen Brown
QLD	Michael Palmer	53kg  0kg	43-71-8	Darryl Caldwell
QLD	Mitchell Speers	51kg  0kg	14-67-6	Liam Birchley
QLD	Owen Turpin	53kg  0kg	29-83-31	Frank Phillips
QLD	Ashley Butler	50kg  1.5kg	0-61-14	Stuart Kendrick
QLD	Skye Bogenhuber	50kg  1.5kg	1-62-46	Tony Gollan
QLD	Alisha Taylor	51kg  2kg	0-28-28	Garnett Taylor
QLD	Chris McIver	47kg  0kg	33-82-41	Liam Birchley
QLD	Michael Hellyer	49kg  0kg	25-57-47	Pat Duff
QLD	Jason Kropp	53kg  3kg	0-21-26	Trevor Miller

QRL licensing and training manager Peter Smith said that following last year’s popular race there has been a lot of interest from local apprentices to participate.

“There is potential to consider running some apprentice only races for Queensland apprentices in future,” added Mr Smith.

As part of next Wednesday’s program, QRL is holding a careers promotion event for Gold Coast area schools and stakeholders. Fifty invited guests will be there to learn what the racing industry has to offer to both school leavers and school based trainees.

“The opportunity to join the racing industry while still at school is very attractive to many young people already involved with horses,” said Mr Smith.

The race is a Class 3 Plate 1300m worth $30,000.

Apprentices are nominated by their states and riders allocated by ballot after acceptance.

In the series so far Queensland took out race one after Chris McIver won at Belmont last October scoring a maximum seven points for Queensland.

In the second race of the series Michael Hellyer represented Queensland at Moonee Valley on February 19. Queensland was unplaced. Congratulations to the home side who ran first, second and third.

QUEENSLAND RACING MEDIA RELEASE

CONTACT: QRL licensing and training manager Peter Smith on 07 3869 9749.