Weight Forces Star Apprentice Out of Saddle

Monday, 14 July 2008 00:00

The riding career of one of the country's best apprentices appears to be over.

Star Tassie claimer Justin Hamer will take an indefinite break from race riding after Sunday's meeting at Hobart.

The talented rider, who kicked away his career in Victoria before transferring to Tasmania under Charlie Goggin, will end as this season's premier apprentice and almost certainly wind up third on the overall Tassie rider's table.

"Yes I'm finishing up," Hamer told The Virtual FormGuide.

"My weight has been a real battle - I'm walking around now at about 61-62 kilograms and that's without a decent feed."

Hamer said he has noticed his health has been suffering with him struggling to keep his weight under control.

"My kidneys are playing up and I keep getting stomach ulcers."

"Being sick all of the time and trying to ride just doesn't work," he added.

Hamer didn't completely rule out a comeback, but said it was a definite long shot.

"I will go on holidays for a few months and it depends on my weight, I might give it a crack to come back, but I highly doubt it."

"I might even take up an offer to ride work in Singapore for John Meagher, but I haven't come to any final decision."

"But it (Singapore) sounds like it would be a really good experience," Hamer summed up.

Hamer has ridden 50 winners (including two dead heats) in Tasmania this season and is third on both the state and city premierships.

His 38 winner (one dead heat included) haul on metro tracks on the Apple Isle this season has only been bettered by Brendon McCoull and Stephen Maskiell.

He will easily win the apprentices title from the now Sydney based claimer Daniel Ganderton.

According to The Virtual FormGuide's extensive jockey statistics Hamer has ridden in 1053 races for 92 wins, 98 seconds and 94 thirds.

This season alone he has 50 wins from 454 rides.

PIC - Greg Irvine.