Jace McMurray hungry to make his mark in Sydney under Golden Slipper-winning trainer Michael Freedman

Queensland apprentice Jace McMurray has been handed a big opportunity to boost his career in the Harbour City.

Jace McMurray is keen to follow in the footsteps of his “massive inspiration”, fellow Queensland apprentice hoop Zac Lloyd, as he prepares for a winter stint in Sydney.

The 18-year-old McMurray will link with leading Randwick trainer Michael Freedman for a three-month period from Monday.

“It’s obviously a big step but I’m very excited,” the Cairns-raised McMurray said.

“I spoke to a couple of people and (former champion jockey) Corey Brown actually suggested it to me.

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“He said he’d speak to a couple of trainers down there and that’s how I got to link with Michael.

“By the looks of it his stable is very progressive and there are a lot of really nice, quality horses coming through.”

Just like Group 1-winning jockey Lloyd, McMurray will jump straight from the provincial level to the city ranks in the Harbour City.

Lloyd, 21, already has three majors on his CV - this year’s Randwick Guineas, the Flight Stakes last spring and back home in the Stradbroke Handicap on Stefi Magnetica in Brisbane last June.

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“I’d love to do something similar to him. He’s a massive inspiration to me because I’m on the same path as him a little bit,” McMurray said about Lloyd, who is second in the NSW metro jockeys’ premiership on 57 wins behind champion hoop James McDonald (73).

“He’s a young apprentice who’s taken that big step to Sydney.

Trainer Michael Freedman will take McMurray under his wing

“I want to ride for those bigger trainers to establish my name in a Sydney circuit like that.

“The aim would be to stay down there but I’d just like to build a better connection with owners and trainers.”

The Gold Coast-based McMurray has been stood down for 12 days due to concussion protocols after a fall in Toowoomba last Saturday when he suffered bruising and a cut ear.

He will be in Sydney for the Easter weekend to “settle in” but he won’t be able to ride for Freedman until his mandatory stand-down period ends on Thursday.

“He’s obviously got a fair bit of natural talent,” Freedman said on Friday about McMurray.

“As I’ve said to him, he’s going to have to work hard down here because it’s a very competitive environment.

“But he’s probably coming at a good time when a couple of the good apprentices around at the moment are starting to lose their claim.

“It’s a good opportunity for him now, at this time of the year particularly, to make his mark if he can.

“If he’s prepared to put in the hard yards, I’m sure he can make a success of it.”

Freedman has been enjoying a terrific run with his team of late, led by Marhoona’s victory in the Group 1 Golden Slipper last month.

Last Saturday, that feature success continued, with Enriched taking out the Group 2 Arrowfield Sprint on Day 2 of The Championships at Randwick.

Originally published as Jace McMurray hungry to make his mark in Sydney under Golden Slipper-winning trainer Michael Freedman