Victorian apprentice jockeys take to national stage

A crack team of six talented Racing Victoria (RV) apprentices will take on their interstate rivals in this year’s National Apprentice Race Series (NARS), which gets underway in the Northern Territory this Sunday, 15 March. 

The 2026 NARS will be contested across six race meetings at Alice Springs, Hobart, Belmont, Eagle Farm, Sportsbet Sandown and Murray Bridge, with two apprentice-only races to be staged at each meeting.

Each participating state will nominate a single rider to represent them in each of the 12 legs held across Australia during March and April, as some of the country’s best apprentice jockeys battle it out to compete for valuable points towards the overall title.

The series will begin at Alice Springs this weekend, with Jess Booth the perfect candidate to fly the Victorian flag in the opening two races having recently returned from a loan stint in the Northern Territory. 

Makisha Salter will don the Victorian colours in the second heat at Hobart on Sunday, 22 March, before Dakotah Keane heads across the Nullarbor for the third heat at Belmont in Western Australia on Wednesday, 25 March.

The series will then move to Queensland where multiple metropolitan winner Emily Pozman will ride for Victoria at Eagle Farm on Wednesday, 8 April.

Victoria will host the fifth heat of the series at Sportsbet Sandown on Wednesday, 15 April, where leading apprentice Ryan Houston will represent the home state at metropolitan level.

The final heat will be staged at Murray Bridge in South Australia on Wednesday, 22 April, with Caitlin Hollowood bidding to secure Victoria their first ever overall victory in the competition. 

RV Apprentice Jockey Coach, Darren Gauci, said the series provided an important opportunity for Victoria’s emerging riders to gain experience competing around the country.

“The National Apprentice Race Series is a fantastic way for some of Victoria’s most promising apprentices to test themselves on a national stage,” Gauci said.

“It gives these young riders the chance to travel, ride at different tracks and compete against the best apprentices from around Australia, which is incredibly valuable for their development.

“We’re confident the team selected will represent Victoria extremely well and we look forward to following their progress throughout the series.

“On behalf of Racing Victoria I’d like to thank the VJA, Ranvet and the Melbourne Racing Club for their generosity in supporting apprentices and trainers taking part in the series.”

Last year’s NARS was won by South Australia, who fended off a late charge from Tasmania to beat the Apple Isle by two points, with just one point back to Western Australia in third. 

First held in 2008, the NARS is Australia’s premier apprentice-only race series and showcases the riding talents of the country’s most exciting young jockeys.

While other apprentices can compete in the NARS races, only the nominated rider from each state can score points in the national competition.

Competing riders will be identified by their breeches, which are in state colours (VIC – navy, QLD – maroon, WA – yellow, SA – red, TAS – green, and NT – ochre).

The 2026 NARS schedule, with Victoria’s nominated riders, is listed below:

• Heat 1 (Legs 1&2): Sunday, 15 March, Alice Springs, NT - Jess Booth
• Heat 2 (Legs 3&4): Sunday, 22 March. Hobart, TAS - Makisha Salter
• Heat 3 (Legs 5&6): Wednesday, 25 March, Belmont, WA - Dakotah Keane
• Heat 4 (Legs 7&8): Wednesday, 8 April, Eagle Farm, QLD - Emily Pozman
• Heat 5 (Legs 9&10): Wednesday, 15 April, Sportsbet Sandown Lakeside, VIC - Ryan Houston
• Heat 6 (Legs 11&12): Wednesday, 22 April, Murray Bridge, SA - Caitlin Hollowood