No joy for WA’s Colgate in national apprentices series

Albany apprentice Shelby Colgate has finished seventh representing her State in the first leg of the National Apprentice Race Series, held in Tasmania on Saturday.

Colgate was selected to ride for WA, jumping aboard the Andrew Roach-trained The Hussler on Saturday evening in Launceston.

The Hussler started a $21 chance in the race and sprung the gates quickly from barrier 12 to land three deep right on speed for Colgate.

In the home straight, The Hussler fought on well but faded in the final 100m run seventh, beaten 2.9 lengths behind the winner Pontypaul for South Australian-based apprentice Gary Lo, who hails from Hong Kong.

Colgate, who is with leading Albany trainer Steve Wolfe, had her earlier mount in race 4 scratched at the night meeting but she was able to pick up a ride on emergency Voluntus.

The $151 outsider was settled well on speed by Colgate to have every chance, fading to run sixth in the end.

The series now heads to WA, where Colgate will get the chance to ride again, one of a number of home State hoops in action at Ascot on Wednesday.

The 22-year-old tasted success in Albany last Thursday, booting home Wolfe’s Boxonlucy, who has now won three of her 10 starts on soft ground.

That result helped Colgate move to six victories in the Great Southern this season, four wins clear of Jade McNaught in the apprentices’ title.

Meanwhile, former Albany resident Mitchell Pateman is enjoying a superb run of form, recording a career-best day at Ascot on Saturday.

Pateman rode four Saturday metropolitan winners and also had a second in a brilliant day in the saddle and followed that up with another winner and five minor placings on Bunbury Cup Day on Sunday.