The 31-year-old Ukraine-born jockey is one of the most successful riders on the country circuit and is one win shy of Samantha Clenton in the race to be the leading country apprentice at the half-way mark of the season.

But after leaving behind a life as a trackwork rider in Britain a couple of years ago to pursue a career as a professional jockey in Australia, Bolozhinskyi has set his sights on a transition to regular rides in the provincial and metropolitan area as he stands on the brink of losing his country claim.

"Before coming to Australia I was just doing trackwork and gallops in England for five years and then I wanted to become a jockey," Bolozhinskyi said.

"I met quite a few people in England who used to work in Australia and they suggested I come here to try and see what happens. I thought, 'why not? I'm not going to lose anything and it's worth a try'.

"I had quite a few offers from Sydney and there were quite a few big trainers who were looking for trackwork riders. I thought I'd have a crack in the country because I thought it would be easier to get going."

Almost two years later and Bolozhinskyi is fast closing in on 100 career winners after a haul of 44 last season.

He has 28 winners so far this term expects to surpass last season's return. He said he would be happy to consider a loan agreement with a provincial or city-based trainer midway through the year having carved out a reputation with the backing of Scone's Mary Moses.

"A couple of trainers have said to come for three months to see how I go, but at the moment I'm quite busy with Mary," he said. "She has quite a few horses coming in and there's about four or five babies about to come in, so it's going to be quite busy.

"I'd love to get those horses rolling for Mary and then, once they are fit and ready to go, I might sneak off to someone else for three months to get some more experience and clients."

GOSFORD PARK FILLY INELIGIBLE

Morgan Butler knows all about the potential of the Gosford Park progeny, which is why the Grafton trainer was devastated to be told untapped filly Wuzetian was ineligible for the $1 million Country Championships series.

"I used to train her half-brother, a horse called Dragon Park, which had to be destroyed when he put his leg through a fence," Butler said. "She's probably a bit better and has a bit more scope, and will probably get a bit further than he ever did."

The siblings have followed similar career paths and Wuzetian,beaten by only three lengths by group 1 place-getter Kuro on debut,  lines up in the last on her new home track looking to make it a hat-trick of wins on Sunday.

"If she wins on Sunday I'll look at something like the Queen Of The North if she qualifies for that type of race," Butler said. "Even if she wins on Sunday she'll probably only end up with a benchmark 60 and, whether that's good enough to get her into the race, I don't know."

TAB meetings: Sunday – Grafton. Monday – Armidale, Wagga. Tuesday – Port Macquarie. Friday – Orange, Tamworth. Saturday – Lismore, Sapphire Coast.