South Australian apprentice Eran Boyd has won the W.A. leg of the National Apprentice’s Challenge, with a cunning ride aboard Thunderclap Newman, rolling off the rail and holding off the fast finishing Drumnoorum.
After a brilliant return to racing under the tutelage of Paula Wagg, Thunderclap Newman has now won three races from six starts, with today’s victory another stellar performance.
Having drawn barrier one, it appeared the apprentice had her work cut out, given the majority of winning performances on the day having won from wide and off the speed. Boyd showed her composure and racing nous to drift outwards and kicking away, appearing to have the race sown up giving the margin to any foreseeable threat.
Drumnoorum was ridden well back today, ending up second last after a few hundred metres and appeared highly unlikely to feature but despite copping a check near the top of the straight, the finish was brilliant, going down by a short head.
A significant margin was back to third with the Kalgoorlie galloper Zuboyne finishing well ahead of Mc Are in fourth.
Thunderclap Newman was now won five from 16 starts, finishing in 1.32.07.
