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A rookie apprentice is the secret behind Blackboard Special, the boom country three-year-old who makes his city debut at Rosehill on Saturday.
Blackboard Special, trained at Grafton by Wayne Lawson, will be out to prove he is a special prospect when he has only his third career start in a strong three-year-old event over 1200m.
There are punters who certainly think he can rise to the challenge as they swooped with some big bets when $15 was offered when first markets were posted on Wednesday. He has since had sustained support and was no better than $6 across the major operators on Friday.
Heavyweight Grafton apprentice Matt McGuren has ridden Blackboard Special in his two race starts and keeps the ride for his Sydney debut despite doubts that he will be able to take advantage of any of his 3kg metropolitan allowance.
However it is another Grafton apprentice that Lawson says is the key to Blackboard Special emerging as a brilliant prospect after a record breaking seven lengths maiden win over 1100m
on his home track on October 4.Lawson says Grafton girl rider Jodi Worley has done all the work with Blackboard Special and deserves the credit for the promise the big Snitzel gelding has displayed in his two starts, often at risk to herself due to the size of the young sprinter as he weighs more than 560 kilos.
Worley, apprenticed to local trainer Paddy Cunningham, has ridden in 28 races and has three wins to her credit.
She helped educate Blackboard Special and is his regular trackwork rider and looks forward to the time she can ride him in a race.
“Jodie has been tipped off him a few times but she’s taught him how to settle,” said Lawson, who runs a small stable while working as a part-time electrician.
“She’s made the difference. She turns up every morning and has had a lot to do with Blackboard Special coming right.
“During his first couple of preparations he had no idea. He never knew how to use his gears but now he can go around on a loose rein.
“I’m just happy to be in a position to have a horse that I think has ability.”
Blackboard Special was bred by Lawson and is a three quarter brother to his former star galloper Starlactic, the winer of 12 of his 34 starts for the Grafton trainer.
Blackboard Special made his debut at Grafton in July and finished second after throwing the race away when he ran to the outside fence in the straight
He incurred a stewards ban for his wayward behaviour and had to win a trial in September before making a sensational winning return last month when he smashed the class record.
Blackboard Special is well drawn in gate three for his city debut but faces a stern test of his bush speed against a field of talented city-trained three-year-olds.
