Jaden Lloyd to strike for Queensland in National Apprentice Race Series

By Glenn Davis

Toowoomba trainer Tony Sears is confident leading apprentice Jaden Lloyd can boost Queensland’s hopes for the National Apprentice Race Series (NARS) when he partners Goldeel at Eagle Farm on Wednesday.

Goldeel has won three of her five starts and will attempt to stretch her winning sequence to four in National Apprentice Race Series Class 4 Handicap over 1600 metres.

The Class 4 is the second NARS race on the program, and is the allocated points race for the meeting, with the Class 3 Plate over 1200 metres conducted earlier on the card.

Queensland is currently fourth with two points in the series, five points adrift of leaders South Australia on seven.

Tasmania sits second with five points, while Victoria is third on three after the opening round of the series was conducted in Adelaide last week.

Sears, who trains in partnership with daughter Maddy, was delighted when Lloyd was selected for Goldeel - a daughter of New Zealand-bred sire Dundeel out of Ipswich Cup winner Anagold.

“We’re pretty lucky to get Jaden on but I don’t think he’s had many rides for the stable,” Sears said.

“He won on Spirit One for us at the Gold Coast one day but I don’t recall him having many other rides for us.”

Goldeel is coming off a commanding win over Spirit’s Charm on the Sunshine Coast Polytrack last month.

“We got her for $150,000 at the Magic Millions sales and she’s a pretty good filly,” Sears said.

“We’re hoping she may go on to be a Queensland Oaks filly in the winter as the further she goes the better.

“I trained another one out of her mother and she won twice in Brisbane before she went amiss in the knee.

“But Goldeel is very sound and is definitely up to Saturday class.

“She’ll step up to 2000 metres in two weeks and if she’s good enough she’ll go on towards the Oaks.”

The NARS was first staged in 2008 and is Australia’s premier competition for apprentice jockeys, drawing young hoops from across the country to represent their state, with points awarded in each leg of the series. 

Points are allocated based on the competing state’s nominated rider’s finishing position in the race, with seven points allocated for first, five points for second, three for third and two points in fourth.