HOBART-BASED rider Tyson Buck gave Tasmania its second win from the first three heats of the National Apprentice Jockeys Series when he scored on speedster Jypsiere at Mowbray last night.
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?emTasmania missed out in the opening heat at Doomben a week ago but Siggy Carr opened the state's account when she won the second heat at Moonee Valley last Friday night.
Buck was Tasmania's official representative in last night's heat and guided Jypsiere to a neck win over From The Bronx, ridden by South Australia's Caitlin Jones, with gun Queensland apprentice Anthony Allen third on the favourite, My Angels.
The series continues at interstate tracks over the next month.
Jypsiere, despite being the best-performed horse in the race, started at the luxury odds of $11.50.
``I supposed his big weight - 60 kilograms after Buck's claim - would have put a lot of punters off,'' trainer Leon Wells conceded.
``But, to balance that, he was dropping sharply in class to a benchmark 62 race.''
Wells prepares Jypsiere for long-time stable clients Greg and Janine Fahey, of Hobart.
``They gave me a horse when I first started training many years ago and have been with me ever since,'' Wells said.
``They are very loyal owners and good friends.''
Wells said that Jypsiere, a winner of six races from 33 starts, was a lovely horse to train.
``He's not very big but he's solid and very powerful,'' the trainer said.
Buck was unwell after his winning ride and was stood down for the rest of the meeting.
Change of luck
FEW people would have begrudged owner-trainer Wayne Curran his win with first-starter Court Candel in the Tasbonus Maiden.
Curran had his first runners last night since losing one of his most promising horses, Torriann Express, in a road accident about nine months ago.
He has also battled ill-health in recent times.
Court Candel, an impressive trial winner, led all the way for apprentice Chantal Willis to beat Bachelor's Life and Mundine.
Curran paid only $600 for the mare at a Gold Coast yearling sale.
``I'd like to think she's going to make a pretty fair horse, but she hasn't been put under any real pressure yet,'' the trainer said,
``I really don't know at this stage how good she is.''
Curran, who has been training for nearly 30 years, has only four horses in work.
Allen wins
AFTER a couple of near misses earlier in the night, leading Queensland apprentice Anthony Allen broke through for a win on Thorn Man in the Apprentices Trophy.
The race was not part of the national series but was restricted to the apprentice riders.
The Michael Trinder-trained Thorn Man proved too strong for Digger's Sunrise and Hot To Trot over the 1600 metres.
``It was a good effort because he was coming back in distance after winning over 2100m at his previous start,'' Trinder said.
``I thought he had improved since that race, so it certainly didn't surprise me to see him win again.
``His trackwork has been very good and he was suited by the fast pace tonight.''
Thorn Man is bred well enough to win a Tasmanian Newmarket, being a half-brother to former star Queensland sprinter Show A Heart, but staying is his forte.
Trinder inherited the six-year-old from leading Queensland trainer Robbie Heathcote, a former Tasmanian.
``He's been very consistent since coming here and is now starting to live up to his potential,'' Trinder said.