It’s often said winter is the time apprentices get a prime chance to show their wares and that’s not lost on Amy McLucas as she aims for her sixth Highway win at Rosehill on Saturday.
Her apprenticeship with the Longmire stable at Goulburn is due to end on June 20 but she's in the process of getting an extension to capitalise on what has been her best season as far as city wins goes.
A lot of the attention of late has been on the exploits of fellow apprentices Dylan Gibbons, Zac Lloyd, Tyler Schiller, Reece Jones and recent addition to the Sydney ranks Jett Stanley and Amy Mclucas, 23, is keen to finish the season with a flurry and catch the eye of the leading stables.
Aside from her ride on Acappella Sun in the TAB Highway (1200m) for Matthew Dale her 3kg claim has been sought out by Annabel Neasham and Chris Waller for rides at Rosehill.
"They've not drawn very well so whether they run or not from those gates will be another question, but I'm very thankful for the opportunity,'' she said.
"Winning those Highways definitely got my name out there and got me rolling along with a lot more rides which is good.
"The opportunities are starting to come now, we're putting in a lot of hard work and riding a lot of work for different people and it's starting to pay off.
"Hopefully I can get some sort of a roll on and keep it going."
McLucas, whose latest city winner came at Warwick Farm on Monday with So United for Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott, had a purple patch in the first half of the season as she collected her five Highway wins, three of them coming on Tash Burleigh's Pokerjack.
She has no doubt Acappella Sun is capable of adding to her tally given the quality of the horses she's bumped into lately.
The filly, $6 with TAB on Thursday, was placed behind Sister Moon and Dollar Magic over 1200m at Rosehill a month ago and again filled third two weeks later, dropping to 1100m, behind Proverbial and Comonic.
She'll again jump from barrier one in a typically large Highway field and McLucas says that's her only small concern heading into the race.
"It's sticky again, she's a horse that needs a lot of luck so barrier one is probably not the best draw for her,'' she said.
"It'll be similar to last time, we'll try to hold a spot but you can't make her uncomfortable and push her out of her comfort zone.
"Basically just let the speed flow around and hopefully get some runs in the straight this time. She's banging on the door, she's just had a bit of bad luck with it."
Asgoodassobergets in the Racing For Good On July 29 Handicap (1800m) and Pretty Wild in the Fujitsu Airstage Handicap (1300m) respectively are McLucas's rides for the Neasham and Waller yards.
