Turkish delight Erhan has a taste for the Gold Coast

MEET Erhan Kacmaz, the Gold Coast's latest international apprentice. He's here on a three-month loan but revealed he is here to stay.

Turkish apprentice jockey Erhan Kachmaz has moved to the Gold Coast recently. Picture: Scott Fletcher

HE'S SPENT the past eight years under the watchful eyes of two of Victoria's most astute trainers and has rubbed shoulders with the likes of champion jockeys Damien Oliver and Craig Williams.

Meet Erhan Kacmaz, the Gold Coast's latest international apprentice.

The Turkish-born jockey is on a three-month loan to local trainer Gillian Heinrich but has revealed he is here to stay.

Until now he has ridden almost exclusively for his new boss but six weeks into his new adventure Kacmaz is ready to step out of the shadows and make some noise.

And the experienced apprentice should have no problems doing just that.

Kacmaz has already rode in four countries and won an international race for his country in Qatar in 2009.

He also impressed in the Australian national apprentice series last season, winning a heat of the competition aboard Vision Of Beauty in Launceston in March this year.

But Kacmaz has had to work hard to make his dream of being a jockey in Australia become a reality.

Turkish apprentice jockey Erhan Kachmaz has moved to the Gold Coast recently. Picture: Scott Fletcher

After learning his craft at Traintech 2000 on the Gold Coast in 2002, Kacmaz spent the next three years riding in Turkey and Dubai.

He finally returned to Australia in 2005 where he joined Aquanita trainers Robert Smerdon and Tony Vasil as a trackwork rider.

Here Kacmaz rode alongside some of Australia's best jockeys at Caulfield racecourse most mornings.

He even beat Oliver home when recording his first Australian winner on Your Excellency at Ballarat in January last year, just weeks after he was finally granted a visa to become an apprentice jockey Down Under.

"I also just got beaten a nose by Danny Nikolic at Seymour one day," he recalled.

"One week later I beat him and I said 'that's pay back' and he laughed.

"Just before I moved here they all said good luck.

"Damien Oliver and Craig Williams said Gillian was one of the best trainers on the Gold Coast and Craig told me Gillian's horses were always up on the speed, so don't miss the kick'."

After a short stint with Brendan McShane in Tasmania, Kacmaz is determined to make a name for himself on the Coast.

The script hasn't gone to plan to date though as he is yet to boot home a winner from 11 rides in his new state.

Turkish apprentice jockey Erhan Kachmaz is on an initial three-month loan to trainer Gillian Heinrich. Picture: Scott Fletcher

But Kacmaz is hoping that can all change when he pilots Dashing Charger for Heinrich at Ipswich today.

"I rode him in trackwork on Tuesday and I liked the way he worked," he said.

"I want to get my first winner for Gillian and it will be a relief when it happens because all the trainers are watching you.

"Once you break the ice then the pressure will be off."

Regardless of the result today, Kacmaz is in for the long haul.

The light-weight hoop, who can ride at 50kg and claims 3kg and 2kg in the city and provincials respectively, knows the opportunities will come.

"I have patience and I'm going to transfer to Gillian permanently when my loan is finished," he said.

"I'm working in one of the best stables on the Gold Coast and I want to prove myself and show that I can become one of the top five jockeys in Queensland."