Race for Gold Coast apprentice jockeys premiership comes down to final meeting

Jed Hodge’s hopes of winning the Gold Coast apprentice jockeys premiership alongside Jag Guthmann-Chester look likely to come down to one ride on the final day of the season.

JED Hodge’s hopes of winning the Gold Coast apprentice jockeys premiership alongside Jag Guthmann-Chester look likely to come down to one ride on the final day of the season.

Hodge trails Guthmann-Chester by one win going into the final meeting of the 2018-19 season on Saturday but with the current leader scheduled to ride at Eagle Farm, the door remains open for him to equal or secure the title.

Hodge is booked to ride $3.80 favourite Commandeering in the BenchMark 62 Handicap (900m), his best chance at going level with Guthmann-Chester, before taking to the saddle in the Class 5 (1200m) on $101 chance Atlantic City.

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Gold Coast racing officials confirmed the two jockeys would share the title should they finish on the same number of wins.

The Ben Hull-trained Commandeering is coming off a last-start win on a heavy track at the Gold Coast over 900m.

The horse was kept by Hull after being left at his spelling farm in Clagiraba and has since paid his way after costing them $2700.

Aquis Park. Race 3 winner number 6, VAINITY. Jockey is Jed Hodge, trainer is Helen Page. Photo by Richard Gosling

Commandeering will have to overcome a wide gate (eight) in order to overcome his rivals and give Hodge a chance at winning the premiership.

Atlantic City is untested at the Gold Coast after spending most of his career in Melbourne before joining Gold Coast trainer Tracy Timbery in Queensland.

The six-year-old is coming off a last-place finish at Doomben over 1350m in the first run of his preparation.