Gold Coast hoop Minehiko Shimodaira to compete in National Apprentice Race Series

Gold Coast hoop Minehiko Shimodaira will be part of a group of nine jockeys to represent Queensland in this year’s National Apprentice Race Series.

GOLD Coast hoop Minehiko Shimodaira will be part of a group of nine jockeys to represent Queensland in this year’s National Apprentice Race Series.

The Molendinar resident will represent the state at Doomben on March 18.

This year’s NARS will again be staged across five rounds, commencing at Elwick in Tasmania on March 4, where Dakota Graham will represent Queensland.

Minehiko Shimodaira will compete in the National Apprentice Race Series. Picture: NIGEL HALLETT

The series heads west with Adin Thompson taking the ride at Ascot Racecourse in Perth on March 11, before coming to Doomben on March 18.

The apprentice riders trek back to Victoria for the penultimate heat on March 25, with the series finale at Murray Bridge on April 1, where a champion state will be crowned.

It has also been confirmed that New Zealand and Singapore-based apprentice jockeys will compete in this year’s NARS for the first time.

“The National Apprentice Race Series is a fantastic initiative for young apprentices across the country, Racing Queensland CEO Brendan Parnell said.