A decision by trainer Graeme Rogerson to take his apprentice Peter Wells to Melbourne last year to ride work during the spring carnival could prove to be a masterstroke.Wells booted home his first Group One winner just over a week ago aboard the Paul Perry-trained Newport in the Metropolitan Handicap (2400m) at Randwick.He's hoping that will translate into a Caulfield or Melbourne Cup ride on that horse and perhaps he can get on a few others in the big races as well.Rogerson, who won last year's

A decision by trainer Graeme Rogerson to take his apprentice Peter Wells to Melbourne last year to ride work during the spring carnival could prove to be a masterstroke.

Wells booted home his first Group One winner just over a week ago aboard the Paul Perry-trained Newport in the Metropolitan Handicap (2400m) at Randwick.

He's hoping that will translate into a Caulfield or Melbourne Cup ride on that horse and perhaps he can get on a few others in the big races as well.

Rogerson, who won last year's Melbourne Cup with Efficient, knew Wells was something special and wanted to give him a taste of spring in the south.

"I was suspended around Melbourne Cup time and Graeme decided to give me an insight into what I could expect if I got a chance to ride there in the future," Wells said.

"He told me that I might be down there soon riding races and so he let me ride his Sydney based horses in their build-ups.

"I rode at the Breakfast with the Stars and things like that and experienced what the carnival is like first hand. It was a great experience."

Wells said winning Sydney's apprentices' premiership last season had opened a few doors but winning a Group One had given him the keys to the city as far as racing was concerned.

"I've had quite a few calls and I've got a few options in the pipeline for other races in Melbourne but a lot can happen between now and then and nothing has been booked yet," Wells said.

Wells would love to ride Newport in Saturday's Caulfield Cup but the horse is not guaranteed a start and Perry and his fellow owners have not booked a jockey.

"It doesn't look as if Newport will get a start at Caulfield so we may have to look at the Moonee Valley Cup or the Geelong Cup," Perry said.

"Peter is definitely a possibility to ride him down there but we won't decide until later in the week."

Newport was given little chance in the Metropolitan and his starting price of $41 was testament to that.

Perry told Wells to keep last year's Brisbane Cup (2400m) winner on the fence for as long as possible and to ride him for luck.

Wells carried out the instructions with aplomb and while the bulk of the hoops battled for runs on the outside, a path opened for Newport on straightening that was almost too good to be true.

Newport lifted in the closing stages, reeling in the Gai Waterhouse-trained Bianca and winning the race by a long neck.

"It was phenomenal, this industry is built on hard work and it's nice to be rewarded like that for all the hard work," Wells said.

"It's great when you get to that next level, just to compete is great but winning at that level something else again.

"It would be great to ride him in these big races but I totally understand whatever decision is made.

"He'll be a big threat in Melbourne and whatever happens I'll be cheering him on."