Clayton Gallagher already vows to dethrone Jackson Murphy next season to win the Gold Coast apprentice jockeys premiership

WHOEVER scheduled the Gold Coast Caravan and Camping Expo may have cost Clayton Gallagher a crack at the apprentice jockey premiership at Aquis Park.

Jockey Clayton Gallagher riding Wallander at the Gold Coast Turf Club. Picture: Jerad Williams.

WHOEVER scheduled the Gold Coast Caravan and Camping Expo may have cost Clayton Gallagher a crack at the apprentice jockey premiership at Aquis Park.

Gallagher trails current leader Jackson Murphy by eight wins but with eight rides booked today, including one emergency, the 20-year-old could have put himself in the frame to win it the following weekend in what will be the final races run before the end of the season.

Murphy hasn’t raced at the Gold Coast since the end of June after breaking into the Brisbane racing scene.

WHO THE SUNS SHOULD TARGET

SUNS GIVEN INSIGHT INTO AFLW STANDARD

He held a 14 win lead but Gallagher has cut that to eight after a string of success and with a host of trainers backing him the young hoop was confident he could have snuck the title from Murphy’s grasp with one more meeting.

But with the expo booked for the same weekend at the Gold Coast Turf Club, there are no races scheduled, leaving Gallagher to likely fall agonisingly short of winning the title.

Gallagher has spent just four months riding in the region, joining Matthew Dunn’s Murwillumbah stable after spending three years riding in the central western districts of NSW.

“It’s a big effort to get up as high as I have in four months,” Gallagher said.

Gallagher said he had a taste for success and had already set his sights on dethroning Murphy next season.

Jockey Clayton Gallagher riding Wallander at the Gold Coast Turf Club. Picture: Jerad Williams

“I’ll be hoping to take it out next year, that is the next best thing,” Gallagher said.

“I didn’t think I’d be as close as I was this year. I was planning on trying to get somewhere next year with it.”

Gallagher spent three months riding for Dunn on loan before earning a permanent position on the back of what has been his most successful season so far with a career high 66 wins, more than double last year’s total of 30.

“It’s actually been a really good season,” Gallagher said.

“I was very happy with the amount of winners I had during the season. It was something I didn’t expect to come but as they were coming I just kept trying to work harder to be able to maintain it.”

Gold Coast Apprentice Jockeys Premiership

Jackson Murphy — 23

Clayton Gallagher — 15

Baylee Nothdurft — 6

Corey Bayliss 5

Adam Sewell — 4

GET A NEW SET OF HEADPHONES WITH YOUR DIGITAL SUBSCRIPTION