Apprentice Molly Bourke chasing biggest career win aboard Felix Majestic in Civic Stakes

Apprentice Molly Bourke is keen to make her presence felt in Sydney and gets a great chance to do so in the Civic Stakes.

Apprentice Molly Bourke feels like she’s starting to build momentum in Sydney at the right time as the young gun prepares to chase the biggest win of her career this Saturday at Royal Randwick.

Bourke will go in search of a maiden stakes victory when she partners the Gary Nickson-trained Felix Majestic in this week’s Listed $200,000 Civic Stakes (1400m).

The 3kg city claimer started her career in the bush after growing up in NSW country town of Tumbarumba but now calls Sydney home following a move to John Sargent’s stable this season.

She had a winner last Saturday aboard Flightcrew and is keen to keep the ball rolling this weekend with another healthy book of rides.

“It’s starting to pick up which has been lovely,” Bourke said.

“I am getting a good go. I am just trying to get my name out there and it seems to happening.

“Working at Sarg’s is great and to have great people around you makes it a lot easier too.”

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Saturday will be the fourth time Bourke has been given a chance in a stakes race and it comes aboard a special horse for the apprentice.

Bourke got her first Sydney Saturday winner last December when she partnered Felix Majestic to victory and will jump back aboard the gelding after Jason Collett piloted him first up.

Felix Majestic is chasing a stakes breakthrough in the Civic Stakes. Picture: Jeremy Ng-Getty Images

“Felix has been very good to me,” Bourke said.

“I’ve had the two rides on him for a win and a second and the one where he ran second it was probably unlucky circumstances where he was taken on.

“Gary Nickson has been great to me and given me a good go and they did promise me that I would be back on Felix as soon as Jason (Collett) had another ride or wasn’t available so it worked out well.”

Felix Majestic has proven to be a consistent galloper for connections with six wins and four placings in 18 starts and was placed in the Listed Carrington Stakes at the same track and trip in January.

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While Felix Majestic only beat one runner home first up on a heavy 9 track in the Bob Charley AO Stakes first up from a break. he had excuses over an unsuitable 1100m trip.

The son of Smart Missile is a $21 chance to bounce back from a gun draw in barrier two.

“He gets a good gate and the other day was just a warm up run for him because it was too short,” Bourke said.

“He can’t race the way he likes to race over that distance, they are a bit too zippy for him early.

“Back up to 1400m, he should be ready for it.”

Astero is one of six rides for Molly Bourke on Saturday. Picture: Jeremy Ng-Getty Images

Bourke has six rides for six different trainers across the 10-race card with Astero rounding out her hand in the Catanach’s Jewellers Benchmark 88 Handicap (1200m).

Astero finished third in the Listed Takeover Target Stakes two starts ago before finishing midfield in a Benchmark 88 over 1300m at Royal Randwick last time.

“Astero seems to handle all types of running so it wouldn’t worry us if the track was still a little bit wet,” Bourke said.

“He drops back to 1200m and I think that suits him perfectly.

“He has been very consistent and is definitely in the money.”

Bourke was eager to see the Mark Minervini-trained Raging Bull step over more ground in the Macquarie St Social Benchmark 88 Handicap (1800m).

“Raging Bull is up to the distance that he definitely needs second up,” she said.

“His first run back wasn’t a bad run, it just wasn’t his distance.

“He should run a good race.”

Bourke has been set a task to start her day with Lago’s Daughter ($26) draw out in barrier 14 in the TAB Highway Class 3 Handicap (1200m).

Ciaron Maher’s Space Age has all been set a testing assignment with the import set to jump from the outside in the Petaluma Benchmark 72 Handicap (1600m).

“Both have drawn tricky gates,” Bourke said.

“Space Age is up in distance as well and I thought the first up run was quite a good run so I think he should run well.

“He should be fitter second up and can improve.”

Originally published as Apprentice Molly Bourke chasing biggest career win aboard Felix Majestic in Civic Stakes