Apprentice Andrew Adkins will ease his way into Sydney racing with two Canterbury rides as he makes his metropolitan debut for new master Ron Quinton.

The leading junior rider on country NSW tracks last season, Adkins’ indentures have been transferred from Port Macquarie trainer Marc Quinn to follow a long line of jockeys who have learned their trade under Quinton.

A multiple Sydney premiership-winning rider before turning to training, Quinton counts Hugh Bowman as an obvious standout graduate from his Randwick stable.

And one of his more recent pupils Sam Clipperton is well on his way to becoming a successful senior jockey.

Now it’s Adkins turn and the 18-year-old created an immediate impression for his new boss.

“He had three rides at Newcastle on Saturday and won two of them, including one for me,” Quinton said.

“I think he rides well and he’s a promising lad, very promising.”

Adkins has lost his claim in the country but he still has a 3kg allowance on city and provincial racetracks.

He will ride Il Mio Destino for Jim Litt in the TAB Rewards Handicap while Bryce Heys has booked his services for Thurston in the NSWROA Celebrates 50 years Handicap.

Thurston is the more fancied of the pair as a $7.50 chance after a first-up Newcastle placing when ridden by Clipperton.

Quinton will be hoping Adkins is not the only Canterbury winner out of his stable on Wednesday.

The trainer has Happy Partner, a Josh Parr mount, running into form for the Bowermans Office Furniture Handicap and the five-year-old is one of the early favourites.

Happy Partner made late ground when midfield over 1550m at Canterbury on November 18 but it is a 2000m Rosehill placing in April that might provide the best clue to his chances.

In finishing second to Loophole, Happy Partner beat home Sons Of John, a subsequent placgetter behind Winx in the Epsom Handicap.

Article from JustHorseRacing.com.au