HELLYER DOUBLE TAKES HIM CLEAR OF RIVALS

By Graham Potter | Saturday, November 14, 2009

Apprentice jockey Michael Hellyer landed a race to race double at Doomben on Wednesday to claim sole leadership in the Brisbane Apprentice Jockeys Premiership.

Hellyer had started the day with eleven winners on the scoreboard, the same amount as Luke Rolls and Owen Turpin, but wins aboard the Michael Nolan trained Miss Tennessee and Cullinan Diamond for trainer Lawrie Mayfield-Smith pushed Hellyer clear of his rivals.

The chase for top honours has a long way to go, but the fact that the frontrunner is guiding by Pat Duff, the master apprentice mentor, means Hellyer has a lot on his side in his quest for the title.

Luke Rolls is sure to bounce back and apply pressure to Hellyer. Turpin will have to wait for his chance again as he is currently serving a suspension while the two apprentices attached to trainer Liam Birchley, Chris McIver and Mitchell Speers are also lurking in the wings, ready to stake their claim.

It’s early days, but this could already be developing into a keen contest.

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