NT standing tall in National Apprentice Race Series
Northern Territory is currently second in the National Apprentice Race Series with the Darwin Turf Club hosting the fourth leg at Fannie Bay on Friday.
Top End-based Jade Hampson represents the NT and she is the only local apprentice who can earn points in Heats 7 and 8 against Queensland, SA, WA and Tasmania riders.
Hampson, victorious in a Fannie Bay heat before dead-heating for first in a Melbourne heat last year, replaces Darwin’s in-form Emma Lines, who was suspended following Alice Springs Cup Day on Sunday.
Hampson (28) was last season’s leading NT apprentice from Alice Springs’ Dakota Gillett (27), NT’s NARS representative in Darwin in 2023, and Lines (25).
Gillett, who rode a treble at Pioneer Park on Saturday, picked up six points at Murray Bridge (March 20) with a fourth and 10th.
Fellow Red Centre apprentice Lek Maloney, who escaped injury after being dislodged from his mount in Alice on Saturday, secured seven points at Hobart (March 24) with a fifth and sixth.
Alice Springs’ Ianish Luximon returned to Perth (April 3) and saluted on Jayce Buckley’s Truevinsky before coming fourth on Gold Merits.
After debuting at Eagle Farm last year, Hampson returns to Brisbane for the final leg at Doomben (April 17).
Hampson has been drawn to ride Tayarn Halter’s The Stifmeister, a last start winner, and Phil Cole’s Whitten on Friday.
Gillett, Maloney and Luximon will be on deck as well, while Hampson squares off against Jade Doyle (SA), Brooke Johnson (Queensland), Chole Wells (Tas) and Rosie Mahony (WA) for NARS points.
South Australia (33 points) leads the way from the NT (23), Tasmania (21), WA (11) and Queensland (8).
Luximon, from Mauritius, who had 31 rides during the Alice Springs Cup Carnival for a win, eight seconds and eight thirds, supports the NARS and was chuffed with his Perth success.
“We’re coming second, that’s great for NT racing,” Luximon said.
“In Perth, I spoke to my mates Keshaw Dhurun and Laqdar Ramoly from Mauritius.
“Keshaw rode Truevinksy and Laqdar rode Gold Merits, they gave me advice, tips and replays on each horse.
“I walked the track with WA jockey coaches John Claite, he’s from Mauritius too, and Peter Hall.
“It was once again a great experience, I also rode better horses this year compared to last year.
“I must thank Andrew O’Toole, who picked me to go to Perth, and Greg Aldam, who was in Perth, from Thoroughbred Racing NT.
“I’m riding Rising Fire for Garry Lefoe and Chris Pollard’s Red Aric in Darwin on Friday.
“I think it will be hard to beat Jade’s horse The Stifmeister, and although I don’t know a lot about Red Aric he won last start at $101.”
For Luximon, the Alice Springs Cup Carnival was enjoyable and also frustrating.
“Too many seconds and thirds last weekend,” he laughed.
“I had 11 rides on Sprint Day and Cup Day – four seconds and three thirds.
“I had great support from Kym Healy, as well as fellow trainers Kevin Lamprecht and Will Savage.”