A pre-race pep talk from Larry Cassidy helped teenage apprentice Ashley Butler score the biggest win of his career in the National Apprentice Series Handicap at Doomben on Wednesday.Butler, 19, is apprenticed to Brad Herne at Eagle Farm and was one of eight apprentices representing Queensland in the third leg of the national series.He produced a polished display on the Kelly Schweida-trained Castle Express to record a home town win over his interstate rivals.Castle Express had been ridden by Cas

A pre-race pep talk from Larry Cassidy helped teenage apprentice Ashley Butler score the biggest win of his career in the National Apprentice Series Handicap at Doomben on Wednesday.

Butler, 19, is apprenticed to Brad Herne at Eagle Farm and was one of eight apprentices representing Queensland in the third leg of the national series.

He produced a polished display on the Kelly Schweida-trained Castle Express to record a home town win over his interstate rivals.

Castle Express had been ridden by Cassidy at his past six runs and Schweida asked the multiple Group One-winning hoop to help Butler with the pre-race instructions.

"Larry knows how to ride the horse better then anyone and he told me I had to go back off his draw and to ride him quietly," Butler said.

"I didn't have many options from the draw and I followed Larry's instructions the best I could.

"The horse travelled really strongly during the run and I got a split just at the right time in the straight and he hit the line strongly.

"It's a really good thrill to win this race and I'd love to be invited to ride in the series again."

Gold Coast apprentice Tegan Harrison looked set for victory when she sent the short priced-favourite Snip 'N' Duck ($2) to the front in the straight but Butler brought Castle Express ($12) with a well-timed run to notch a head win.

Leading Brisbane apprentice Tim Bell finished a long neck back third on Medeya ($13) with top Victorian apprentice Jake Noonan the best of the interstate brigade a further half-length back in fourth on Executive Officer ($13).

It was Noonan's first Queensland ride and the highly-talented rider said he was impressed by the Doomben track and the interstate experience.

"It's a lovely track to ride on and it's a great opportunity to travel away and ride in different states against different riders," Noonan said.

"My horse raced really well. He got back off a bad draw and he probably got a bit tired toward the line but his run was full of merit.

"I'm keen to have another ride in the series."