As an era closed with the last race meeting conducted by the Brisbane Turf Club, the careers of trainer Jason McLachlan and apprentice Michael Hellyer were thrust under the spotlight at Doomben on Wednesday.The Brisbane Turf Club, which was formed in 1923, officially staged its last race meeting before it merges with neighbours the Queensland Turf Club to become the Brisbane Racing Club on July 1.The promising Hellyer landed his fifth metropolitan winner aboard Mackeye in the Lyndhurst Stud Maid

As an era closed with the last race meeting conducted by the Brisbane Turf Club, the careers of trainer Jason McLachlan and apprentice Michael Hellyer were thrust under the spotlight at Doomben on Wednesday.

The Brisbane Turf Club, which was formed in 1923, officially staged its last race meeting before it merges with neighbours the Queensland Turf Club to become the Brisbane Racing Club on July 1.

The promising Hellyer landed his fifth metropolitan winner aboard Mackeye in the Lyndhurst Stud Maiden Hcp (1200m) and is now determined to make his mark on Brisbane racing while Bob And Dolly gave McLachlan his first city winner since last week's death of his father, champion trainer Bruce McLachlan.

Bob And Dolly defied his big weight of 58 kilograms to edge out Machination by a long neck in the XXXX Gold Hcp (1200m).

"We've had a few winners since Dad died but this is our first in the city," McLachlan said.

"Dad and I tried this horse over 1350 metres in the Doomben Slipper last start but he didn't see it out and didn't handle the heavy track.

"I think he'll make a good three-year-old next season and I thought he had a bit on this lot today despite the big weight."

McLachlan and his famous father, who won 16 Brisbane trainers' premierships, formed a training partnership last year and struck immediate success together winning the Magic Millions and Golden Slipper with Phelan Ready.

Hellyer joined the Pat Duff stable last year but after winning his first metropolitan race in July has kept a low profile, preferring to ride at the provincial centres to further his experience.

"I've had a lot of support from trainers like Bryan Guy and John Morrisey on the Gold Coast and Pat Duff in Brisbane," Hellyer said.

"For the last five months I've concentrated on riding at the provincials but from next month I'm planning to do more riding in the city.

"It's taken a long time to get some rides in town and this was my 66th winner."

Hellyer, 21, was a former Wollongong rugby league junior before his size pointed him to a new career path as a jockey.

Hellyer was born in Wollongong but grew up at Dapto, south of Sydney, and only began riding a little over three years ago after completing Grade 10.

He once considered a future as a carpenter until a chance meeting with a car salesman.

"I played halfback for the Illawarra Steelers in the juniors but I was too small for rugby league and I always wanted to be a carpenter," Hellyer said.

"One day I went to buy a car in Wollongong and the salesman suggested I should become be a jockey because of my size, and his nephew happened to be a trainer.

"I learned to ride at Kembla Grange and then I was apprenticed to Col Parker for 18 months at Murwillumbah."

Hellyer jumped at the opportunity to head to Brisbane when Duff rang offering him an apprenticeship last year.