Leading apprentice Jason Maskiell has a full book of eight rides in his quest to land a career milestone at Moonee Valley on Saturday.The 19-year-old needs just one winner to notch his 50th metropolitan success.The son of Tasmanian jockey Stephen Maskiell has abandoned his attempt to win the apprentices' premiership in his home state but already has the Victorian apprentices' title safely in his keeping.Maskiell, who rode his first city winner aboard pick-up ride Awimoweh at Moonee Valley in Jun
Leading apprentice Jason Maskiell has a full book of eight rides in his quest to land a career milestone at Moonee Valley on Saturday.
The 19-year-old needs just one winner to notch his 50th metropolitan success.
The son of Tasmanian jockey Stephen Maskiell has abandoned his attempt to win the apprentices' premiership in his home state but already has the Victorian apprentices' title safely in his keeping.
Maskiell, who rode his first city winner aboard pick-up ride Awimoweh at Moonee Valley in June last year, has ridden 47 of his 49 city winners in Melbourne this season placing him second in the jockeys' premiership behind Luke Nolen (57 wins).
His closest apprentice rival is Brent Evans with 24.
Among his mounts at the Valley are two for his master, Caulfield trainer Mick Price - the unbeaten Our Baby Bonus in the Super Vobis Three-Year-Old Hcp (1000m) and Gran Sasso in the Open Sprint (1200m).
He'll also pilot the Robert Smerdon-trained Enzed Girl in the Super Vobis Two-Year-Old Fillies Hcp (1200m) and her stablemate Beyond Pardon in the Super Vobis Three-Year-Old Hcp (1600m).
His other rides are the Tony Vasil-trained Bird Of Fire in the Geoff Torney Cup (1600m), Danny O'Brien's Searing Heights in the 0-89 Hcp (3000m), the Jarrod McLean-trained Kel's Gold in the Mares Hcp (1000m) and Tell The Story in the Fillies And Mares Hcp (1500m for Albury trainer Alex Aquilina.
Maskiell is also eagerly awaiting the trip to Brisbane to ride the Bart Cummings-trained mare Russeting in the Group One Stradbroke (1400m) at Eagle Farm on June 12.
"I have ridden in every state now except for Queensland so I'm looking forward to it," he said.
Russeting is weighted to carry 51kg in the Stradbroke and is currently at $35 with TAB Sportsbet behind the $5.50 favourite Ortensia.
Meanwhile, Steven Arnold will ride Russeting, who drew barrier 18, in Saturday's Group One Doomben 10,000 (1350m) which has a field of 16 plus five emergencies.
"On paper it looks a bit strong but she could surprise," Arnold said.
"I trialled her and she went well."
The Commands five-year-old was ridden by Michael Cahill when she won the Group One Winter Stakes (1400m) at Eagle Farm last June and that event is again part of her winter program.
Arnold has also picked up the ride on the Cummings-trained Dariana in the Group One Queensland Oaks (2400m) at Eagle Farm on Saturday week.
The Redoute's Choice filly was ridden by Michael Rodd when she won the Frank Packer Plate (2000m) at Randwick on April 24 and finished third Marheta in the Doomben Roses (2020m) last Saturday.
"She'll be hard to beat. She's a top three chance," he said.