Apprentice jockey Logan Bates eyes stakes success with Hughes in Winter Championship Series Final at Flemington

Logan Bates has formed a successful pairing with Hughes, which has been rewarded with a stakes opportunity in the Winter Championship Series Final at Flemington.

Breakout seasons – for horse and rider – could be rewarded with Listed Winter Championship Series Final (1600m) success at Flemington on Saturday.

In-form Hughes, trained by Gavin Bedggood, has graduated from Benchmark 70 to Listed grade the past five starts, including four wins, with leading Victorian apprentice jockey Logan Bates aboard.

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“Many thanks to Gavin and the (syndicator) Roll The Dice (owners of Hughes) crew for sticking by me and giving me the opportunity to have one of my first stakes rides on Saturday,” Bates said.

“It will be my first day riding in stakes races, I’ll try not to dwell too much into it, ride like any other race and take the accolades after (hopefully).

“I’ve had a great season and the three people I’m riding for in stakes races Saturday have been my main supporters, Bedggy (and) Lloyd (Kennewell) and Lucy (Yeomans).

“It would be amazing to get one for them.”

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Bates has up to four rides on Saturday, including Kennwell and Yeomans-trained Madame Maserati in the She’s An Artist ($1.65) and Fieldelo ($4.80) dominated Listed A.R Creswick Stakes (1200m).

Madame Maserati is a $23 chance.

Hughes and jockey Logan Bates have formed a winning combination. Picture: Racing Photos via Getty Images

“She’s An Artist will be pretty hard to topple but Lloyd has done a great job with his filly,” Bates said.

“She’s earned her crack now, she’s proven up the straight … I’m sure she’ll be in the finish.”

Hughes is $10 for the Winter Championship behind Oh Too Good ($2.90), Jimmy The Bear ($6), Cafe Millenium ($6.50) and Yellow Sam ($9.50).

The market leaders, Oh Too Good and Jimmy The Bear in particular, are all drawn outside Hughes.

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“I’m going into the race pretty confident … he’s going to get a soft run, if he can show that turn of foot up to the mile at Flemington I think he can be a big hope,” Bates said.

Hughes sustained a brilliant gallop last start from the back in the field to win at Sandown.

Bates has ridden the hard-fit gelding in track work twice since and been impressed.

“I galloped him straight after his last run and he gave me the feel he was still there,” Bates said.

“I did his final piece of work on Tuesday, with his galloping partner, and he cruised up nicely under a hold, all good signs leading into Saturday.

“He’s only a little horse but he holds quite good condition … if Bedggy had seen any inkling he’s a bit different in demeanour (end of preparation) he wouldn’t go to the mile.”

Originally published as Apprentice jockey Logan Bates eyes stakes success with Hughes in Winter Championship Series Final at Flemington