Apprentice Jag Guthmann-Chester has taken the first step towards his aim of being the state's top apprentice with his first metropolitan class win at the Sunshine Coast.
Guthmann-Chester showed plenty of nous to take Exceed Battle ($2.80) to the lead and hold on to beat My Girl Hayley ($1.90) in Wednesday's Class Three Plate (1000m).
Gold Coast based Guthmann-Chester has ridden 60 winners on all tracks but has had limited metropolitan riding.
"I am keen to give metropolitan racing a real go this season," Guthmann-Chester said.
"Last week was my first Saturday in the city and I have a few more rides this Saturday."
Guthmann-Chester's master Bruce Hill believes the 18-year-old has the ability to go a long way.
"He is a natural and a hard worker which helps. That was his first city winner but there will be a lot more," Hill said.
Exceed Battle is trained by David Vandyke for Tony Bott's Evergreen Stud.
"They are a famous set of colours he wore to victory today and Jag did them proud with a clever ride," Vandyke said.
Bott is the father of Adrian Bott who is now a co-trainer with Gai Waterhouse.
Evergreen Stud has produced many top horses and sold the Group One winner Sizzling as a yearling.
