Teo Nugent wins Rising Star Series for 2020-21 Racing Victoria season

Nugent, 23, was crowned the Rising Stars Series winner for apprentice jockeys earlier in the day before his victory on Bartholomeu Dias for his bosses Ciaron Maher and David Eustace.

The 22-race series is decided on a points-based system for apprentice riders.

The former Warrnambool Brauer College student has only been back riding for a week after recovering from a broken fibula following a mishap at Cranbourne in May.

"It's great to have won the Rising Stars Series after being runner-up on two other occasions," Nugent told The Standard.

"It's a wonderful series for the apprentice jockeys. I've really go to thank Ciaron and Dave they have been wonderful supporters of mine.

"They have supported me in every way since I started my apprenticeship in late 2015. I could not have asked for better bosses."

Nugent, who only needs 11 more metropolitan winners before he outrides his apprentice claim of 1.5kgs, has been granted an extension to his apprenticeship by the stewards.

"The stewards have extended my apprenticeship until September 2022 or till I've ridden 11 more city winners," he said.

"I've got my fingers crossed I can ride the 11 city winners by December.

"It was a good win by Bartholomeu Dias. I rode him in track-work a week ago and I knew he was going well on the back of the solid track-work.

"The team at home have done a great job in preparing him for the first-up run. Bartholomeu Dias has really matured since the last time he was in work. I think with a bit of time he's going to develop into a handy type of stayer."

Nugent has ridden 19 metropolitan winners in the 2020-21 season which ends on July 31.

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