Devonport-based apprentice Alex Patis will have an eye to the future when she represents her adopted home state in South Australia on Wednesday.
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Patis will ride for Tasmania in the fourth heat of the National Apprentice Series and, although she is on an outsider, is treating the trip as a valuable experience.
"At a certain point in my career, Adelaide is where I hope to end up," she said.
"So it's good to go over to have a look at things and meet a few people."
Patis, 19, is apprenticed to Spreyton trainer Adam Trinder and has ridden 16 winners so far this season to be eighth on the jockeys' premiership.
Originally from Victoria, she hopes to return there one day.
"My goal is to eventually leave Tasmania to further my career and I think South Australia will be my next move," she said.
"I feel it's the next step - going back to Melbourne is probably two steps.
"When I go will depend on how I finish this season. I'll wait till the end of August before making a decision.
"There is still a spot for me in Victoria if I do go back.
"I probably won't go back to Brent Stanley, who I was with previously, but Darren Gauci and Matt Pumpa are good at putting apprentices in the right places."
Still in her first season of riding, Patis has time on her side.
"I've still got three or four years left as an apprentice," she said.
Patis will ride Hero's Honor for trainer Barry Brook at Strathalbyn and, although the gelding is quoted at $71, she will take a positive attitude into the race.
"Adam (Trinder) knows the trainer, who's got jumpers, so hopefully the horse will be fit and I'll let it run and hope it can keep going with no weight on its back," she said.
Tasmanian riders have had no luck at the draw for any of the National Apprentice Series heats.
Teagan Voorham rode a $31 chance at Mowbray and $26 chance at Doomben while Chris Graham's ride at Ascot started at $101.
HEAVENLY FORM
Heaven's Bonus has the right form line and, according to trainer Gary White, the right pedigree to win the $50,000 Sires Produce at Mowbray tonight.
At his last start, the Toronado gelding led all the way over 1200m and finished almost four lengths in front of Fitzwilliam who has since won by 10 lengths.
The only query is a step up to 1400m but White is not concerned, pointing out that his half sister Heaven's Delight won over that distance and was beaten only a nose over 2100m.
White has won the Sires Produce with Strait Dash (2001), Conversations (2002) and Tiz Canny (2005).