Gold Coast treble to help lift apprentice

By Jordan Gerrans

Just days after a big Gold Coast treble, Coffs Harbour apprentice Courtney Bellamy’s future looks increasingly likely to be in the Sunshine State as she chases more city opportunities.

The 22-year-old was on fire at Aquis Park on Saturday afternoon, posting victories for trainers Lee Freedman, Josh Sweeney and Allan Chau on the Polytrack.

Courtney is already somewhat a regular face in Queensland and will take a ride at Ipswich on Wednesday before likely heading north again for metropolitan engagements on Saturday at Doomben.

The Northern NSW area has been a fruitful breeding ground for future successful Brisbane apprentices in recent years following Cejay Graham and Kyle Wilson-Taylor’s fortunes.

Courtney is indentured to her father Brett at Coffs Harbour and the team have had ongoing conversations around utilising her city claim in Brisbane.

She still claims three kilograms at the provincial and city level.

“We have spoken to a few people in Queensland about where she might go and get the best opportunity,” Brett said.

“The seeds have been planted and we are weighing up all the options.”

Wilson-Taylor was based at Coffs Harbour while Graham used to commute the six hours from Port Macquarie to Brisbane twice a week for the races before she shifted north permanently.

Wilson-Taylor and Graham both went on to be crowned champion apprentices in the city.

Courtney famously was photographed with movie star and Western Bulldogs supporter Chris Hemsworth after collecting a city winner for her father at Eagle Farm in the middle of September last year.

She scored aboard Extra Manners for her father in a Class 3 Plate over 1800 metres to land her maiden victory on a metropolitan Saturday.

Courtney is enjoying her best season since she debuted back in the 2020-21 campaign.

She has posted 37 winners this season at a touch over a 12 percent strike-rate.

“If the right opportunity and stable rolls around, I do not see why not,” Courtney said of a northern shift.

“I have no country claim left and I need to move to the next level.

“I already have provincial and city winners under my belt so hopefully from here I can outride as much of those claims as possible.”

With 83 career winners on her resume, 25 of those have come for father Brett.

Courtney has not ridden a double figure number of winners for any trainer other than her father, with her next best just four for Sally Taylor.

Long-time Coffs Harbour conditioner Brett believes his daughter’s achievements are significant as she has not been backed by any big powerful stables.

“She has always been consistent but the hardest part for her is being based at Coffs Harbour and she has had to do it the hard way,” he said.

“Yes, she has had my stable behind her, but I have not had a heap of good horses – there is the odd one that is the handy one.

“Obviously Extra Manners winning in town was good for her.

“There is not too many horses she has won over the time have been favourites, she is not getting sit and steer jobs.

“She has had to do everything the hard way and she is a worker.”

Courtney had taken a handful of rides on the Polytrack at the Gold Coast before Saturday without any success.

“It felt great to ride those winners because I had only been to the Poly three times and I hadn’t ridden a winner there before,” Courtney said.

Brett believes Courtney riding a winner for Hall of Fame trainer Freedman will only enhance her opportunities going forward.

“She is a strong rider, which is a big advantage for her,” Brett said.

“If she is given the opportunity, she will make the most of it.

“She can navigate through a field and her feedback after races is good.

“The harder you work, the luckier you will get and that rings true for her because she has been a worker. It is good to see her finally get some rewards.”

Brett has horses nominated for Doomben and the Gold Coast this Saturday.