FORMER star Tasmanian apprentice Jason Maskiell took another step towards returning to race riding after competing in trials at Tapeta Park Spreyton yesterday.
Maskiell partnered two horses from the Barry Campbell stable that were placed in their respective trials.
Maskiell has been working for Spreyton trainer Vicki Rhind while he prepares to make a comeback after 10 months on the sidelines.
He was Tasmania’s leading apprentice when he relocated to Victoria and it took him no time to get established.
In his first season (2009-10) in Victoria he not only won the apprentices premiership but he finished second to Luke Nolan on the senior jockeys’ premiership table with 52 winners.
Maskiell made regular visits to Tasmania during that time and he was a much sought after commodity during the Tasmanian Sumer Racing Carnival.
But somehow he lost his way and that led to a bust-up with his Caulfield-based master Mick Price and after being taken on by another Caulfield-based trainer Robert Smerdon Maskiell again fell foul of the rules while in his care and not once but twice.
He then took two months off but when he returned to race riding he failed a routine drug test at Echuca, near the NSW border, and that led to a six-month suspension.
Stewards imposed certain conditions that needed to be met before he was relicensed but that criterion has been met.
The talented young rider is genuinely trying to resurrect his career back home in Tasmania and he has received a lot of support from trainers who know his worth as both a person and as a jockey.
His plan is to ride in more trials next week to gain more fitness and possibly resume race riding next month.