Julius, 25, was selected under the International Federation of Horse Racing Authority’s (IFHRA) racing scholarship fund, which is supported by the HH Sheik Mansoor Festival.

“It has been a totally amazing experience to ride trackwork at Newmarket for the Cumani stable,” Julius said. 

“I had heard so many stories about Newmarket the home of racing in England before I had got there, but to be lucky enough to ride trackwork is something I will never forget.

“It was a childhood dream come true – all the people at the Cumani stable were wonderful. I've made some wonderful friendships.”

Julius, who started her career at Penshurst on Boxing Day 2015, said trackwork in England was vastly different to Australia.

“They individualise more time on their horses than back home,” she said.

“They begin saddling up at 6.30am before warming horses up under cover at 6.50am.

“Horses are broken into groups of about 30 and they go of to do their work in big groups.

“I was riding three horses a morning. I would say after saddling, riding and fixing up you could spend as much as an hour and a half on each horse. We would usually finish about 11.30am.”

The racing scholarship fund allows young talented riders from IFHRA member bodies to gain experience to further their careers through international work and riding placements.

“I've got to thank so many people for giving me the chance to go to England,” Julius said.

“Racing Victoria and my boss Symon Wilde have been great supporters, plus all the people from IFHRA.”

Julius has ridden 37 winners in 334 career rides, including a midweek metro winner last December.

Fellow apprentice Stephanie Thornton spent three weeks working for Newmarket trainer Ed Dunlop. Dunlop is known to Australian racing fans via the deeds of his popular stayer Red Cadeaux in the Melbourne Cup.

IMPORTED galloper Guizot kept up Aaron Purcell’s incredible record of training international horses to win Australian races, taking out a restricted race at Sandown last Wednesday.

Guizot is one of 11 horses Purcell has purchased from overseas on the advice of respected English bloodstock agent Anthony Bromley.

“Ten of the 11 horses have won here,” Purcell said.

“Column, the other import, ran well for us at his Australian debut. We've got Knezerabad from overseas. He will have his first Australian start in the future.

“He's a nice type of horse. We're really lucky to have Anthony over there. He's got a wonderful eye for a horse.”

Purcell was disappointed with the run of promising galloper Falcool in a $100,000 three-year-old race at Moonee Valley last Friday night.

“Falcool just had no luck,” he said. “We may give him another run in a fortnight in Melbourne before looking at the Euclase Stakes at Morphettville in early May or we may go down another path and go straight into the Euclase.”

Falcool has won three of his eight starts.

CHAMPION jumps jockey Steve Pateman has been booked to ride I’ll’ava’alf in the $100,000 Von Doussa Steeplechase at Oakbank on Easter Saturday

Warrnambool trainer Patrick Ryan confirmed the booking of Pateman after he rode I’ll’ava’alf in a 2800-metre steeplechase trial at Warrnambool last Thursday.

“We've got Steve riding him in the Von Doussa,” Ryan said. “We’ll run in the Von Doussa, but probably not run in the Great Eastern Steeplechase on the Monday.”

From his 11 jumps starts, I’ll’ava’alf has won two.

FORMER jumps jockey Todd Balfour is only weeks away from making a return to the riding ranks after 10 years on the sidelines.

Balfour, who has lost more than 20kg in the past two months, rode in the jumps trials at Warrnambool last Thursday.

“I'm pretty focused on getting back to riding over jumps,” he said.

“I've rode in five flat trials and now I've got to ride in 10 jumps trials before I get my ticket back. I would love to think I could ride at Oakbank at Easter.”

Balfour’s biggest race winner as a jockey was Weeping Willow in a hurdle race at Morphettville. He also rode some winners in England.

JUMPS jockey Richard Cully was impressed with the steeplechase trial of Regina Coeli at Warrnambool last Thursday.

Cully, who has won two of the past three Warrnambool Grand Annual Steeplechase races, rode Regina Coeli in the 2400-metre trial.

“Regina Coeli will derive plenty of benefit from the trial,” he said. “She's ticking along all right. I reckon a flat run or two plus a few more jumps trials will bring her along well for another tilt at the Grand Annual.”

Regina Coeli won the 2015 Grand Annual with Irish-born jockey John Allen in the saddle.

LUKE Currie pleaded guilty to a careless riding charge after his ride on Curragh at Ballarat on Sunday.

Stewards said Currie directed Curragh outwards near the 1200-metre mark to get position on the outside of Cardplayers. Currie’s out from March 26-April 1.