Apprentice Brenton Avdulla believes he is ready to start competing on a level playing field with Sydney's senior jockeys.The 19-year-old needs just one more city win to outride his claim and is confident he has the right ammunition to reach the milestone at Randwick on Saturday."I think the Group One winner showed everyone that the 1.5-kilo claim is just there probably for a bit of a bonus," Avdulla said."I'm probably nearly ready just to come out and fight for myself and ride against the best w
Apprentice Brenton Avdulla believes he is ready to start competing on a level playing field with Sydney's senior jockeys.
The 19-year-old needs just one more city win to outride his claim and is confident he has the right ammunition to reach the milestone at Randwick on Saturday.
"I think the Group One winner showed everyone that the 1.5-kilo claim is just there probably for a bit of a bonus," Avdulla said.
"I'm probably nearly ready just to come out and fight for myself and ride against the best without a claim."
That will be the case for Avdulla from next week if he can steer home at least one of his six rides on the Kensington track.
Avdulla partnered the Grahame Begg-trained Secret Admirer to victory in the Group One Flight Stakes last month, his first success at the highest level.
The young rider is ahead of schedule in his goal to outride his claim before Christmas.
"I'm not saying I'm definitely going to do it this Saturday but I think I'll be doing it before Christmas, all going well," he said.
"Saturday would be a nice day to do it and I think my book of rides is alright to do it."
One of his leading chances is last-start winner Dances On Waves who he rode to an impressive 2-3/4 length first-up win over 1400m at Rosehill on November 13.
Trainer Gerald Ryan has accepted with the mare in both the Triple M Grill Team Handicap (1550m) and the Korea Racing Authority Handicap (1550m) with Avdulla booked to ride her no matter which race she contests.
"She seems like she's come back in good form and if she takes any improvement out of her first-up run I think she'll be awfully hard to beat again," he said.
Avdulla is apprenticed to Anthony Cummings while fellow Randwick trainer Begg has also been a constant supporter.
Premiership leader Chris Waller has also been utilising Avdulla's claim more frequently with the apprentice to ride Beijing Boy for the Rosehill trainer on Saturday.
"I've got some of these main stables that are supporting me at the moment and it's definitely helping," Avdulla said.
With the milestone win on the horizon, the apprentice has already begun discussing with Cummings how best to try and kick on in Sydney racing once his claim is gone.
"I think I'm probably going to have to freelance a bit more and try and get some more outside stables and outside rides," he said.
"I'm more than happy to stay at Anthony's. His team is going well so hopefully I can base myself there with Grahame Begg also and still try and pick up some of these rides for Chris Waller and Gerald Ryan and trainers like that."
Avdulla is level with Josh Adams in the apprentices' premiership with 15 wins and the pair sit equal fifth in the race for the overall Sydney jockeys' title.