The Tasmanian leg of the National Apprentice Race Series (NARS), Australia’s premier competition for apprentice jockeys, will be held in Hobart on Wednesday (4 March 2020).
First run in 2008, the series brings together apprentice jockeys from across Australia and the series continues to go from strength to strength with this year seeing the competition expanded with Singapore and New Zealand participating for the first time. Apprentices represent the state or country in which they are registered to ride.
Points are awarded to every state or country nominated jockey in each of the five races, with the winner receiving seven points and the runner-up five. Third place is rewarded with three points, fourth place gets two points and all unplaced riders receive one point.
The Hobart race meeting will see 14 apprentices competing and testing their skills against each other.
The five legs of the NARS will take place over a four week period
From Hobart, the series moves to Western Australia and Ascot plays host on Wednesday 11 March.
Doomben will host the Queensland leg one week later before Sandown, in Victoria, hosts the series on Wednesday 25 March.
The series will finish with the reigning premiers in South Australia at Murray Bridge on Wednesday 1 April.
Tasmania, which finished 5th last year but runner-up in the series the two-years prior, will be represented in 2020 by Ianish Luximon in the Tasmanian heat, Chris Graham in Western Australian, Scarlet So in the Queensland and Victorian races and Peter Lui in South Australia.
Tasmanian Apprentice Jockey Program Manager Stephen Maskiell said the NARS provided apprentice jockeys with the opportunity to test and further develop their skills against the best apprentices in Australasia.
“It is a terrific initiative and great opportunity that gives apprentices exposure to different trainers, new tracks and racehorses, as well as meeting and working with fellow apprentices and apprentice jockey coaches.”
Apprentices riding at the meeting include:
- Ianish Luximon (Tasmanian representative)
- Scarlet So
- Peter Lui
- Brandon Griffiths (New South Wales representative)
- Dan Morgan (Northern Territory representative)
- Carleen Hefel (Victorian representative)
- Alexandra Bryant
- Jess Philpott
- Teagan Voorham
- Sophie Logan (South Australian representative)
- Beaux Banovic-Edwards (WA representative)
- Gary Lo
- Dakota Graham (Queensland representative)
- Shafrizal Bin Saleh (Singapore representative)