TASMANIAN apprentice jockey Rasit Yetimova scored arguably his biggest win when he guided the Mark Nelson-trained Soldier’s Salute to victory in the fifth heat of the National Apprentices Series at Ascot in Western Australia today.
Yetimova settled his charge midfield and brought him with a well-timed run to grab victory in the shadows of the post to score from Queensland rider Alexandra Kilson’s mount General Albert with Eastern Twister, ridden by WA rider Rayce Nelsen a close-up third.
The win takes Tasmania into first place in the race for the title that is determined on a point-score basis with seven points allocated to first, five for second and three for third with all unplaced runners earning one point.
Turkish-born Yetimova has been apprenticed in Tasmania for almost a year and has been riding the crest of a wave of late and this interstate win is testament to his ability.
The next heat of the series will be held at Canterbury in NSW on Friday night where Jacques Luxe will represent the state.
The remaining two heats will be held in Adelaide (April 19) and Alice Springs in the Northern Territory (May 5) where Georgie Catania and Bulent Muchu will have the honour of representing Tasmania.
Series results to date:
National Apprentice Series 2011-12
VIC TAS QLD WA NSW
(MooneeValley) (Launceston) (Doomben) (Ascot) (Canterbury)
2/3/12 14/03/12 28/3/12 11/4/12 13/4/12
State Heat 1 Heat 2 Heat 3 Heat 4 Heat 5
Tasmania 3 7 1 7
Queensland 1 3 7 5
Victoria 7 1 5 1
South
Australia 5 5 1 1
Northern
Territory 1 1 3 1
Western
Australia 1 1 1 3
New South
Wales 1 1 1 0
Points conditions 7 win, 5 second, 3 third and all unplaced riders receive 1 point on behalf of the state in which they are indentured
Apprentices riding in the series are representing the state in which they are registered .