Apprentice On The Way Up After First Metropolitan Success

Illawarra Mercury

Thursday October 19, 2000

Leading Gold Coast trainer John Wallace gave inexperienced apprentice Michael Rodd his stamp of approval after Teleban won the Lydia Jordane Handicap (1350m) at Doomben yesterday.

Rodd, 18, scored his first win at a metropolitan track when Teleban (15/8 fav) scored by 11/4 lengths from Opal Ice (14/1), with Astral Joie (9/10) a further 11/2 lengths away third.

Wallace was quick to praise Rodd who led most of the way on Teleban.

``He's on the way up and at least he listens - that's half the battle," Wallace said.

Rodd is indentured to Bryan Guy at the Gold Coast and has another three years of his apprenticeship to serve.

``I've ridden 18 winners but this is my first in the city," he said.

``My first winner was on Tornato Lass during the Grafton Cup carnival for my boss which was a big thrill."

Riding horses was the last thing Rodd expected to be doing two years ago.

``I was an apprentice carpenter but I was too small and couldn't do any heavy lifting," he said.

``My brother is a mate of Mitch Newman and eventually I got in touch with Maurice Logue at the apprentices' school in Sydney. I didn't know much about horses back then but I was keen to give it a go and stick at it."