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By Ray Hickson

Star country apprentice Braith Nock is spending summer under the watchful eye of champion trainer Peter Snowden as he completes a three month loan at Randwick.

The 23-year-old began his stint with Snowden late last month, on the recommendation of his master Brett Cavanough, and on Sunday at Newcastle he rode his first winner for his new boss.

Snowden said it’s so far so good but he’s not going to rush Nock, who has only had a limited number of metropolitan rides, into the city though he’s likely to be given some opportunities in the coming weeks.

“Cav rang me up and said he wanted to send Braith down to Sydney for a few months and did I want to take him on,’’ Snowden said.

“He’s a good young kid, I’ve been very impressed. He has a good work ethic.

Apprentice Braith Nock has started a three month loan to Randwick trainer Peter Snowden. (Pic: Bradley Photos).

“He needs a bit of polishing up, I think it’s a good idea for him to be here.

“There are good riders down here, they’re all good lads here too and they’ll get into his ear and talk to him about a few things. That’s what he needs now, a bit of coaching.”

Nock has already recorded 133 wins and he only had his first race ride, which was a winner, back on New Year’s Day in 2023 at Inverell.

That’s why Snowden said he’s taking things slowly but was quite impressed with how he steered well bred filly Burj to her debut win last weekend.

“He’s well above average, and he rode that filly well,’’ he said.

“There was a tearaway leader, ours was favourite, and he never panicked and just kept making ground slowly up onto it.

“When they straightened up he waited another 150m before he let it go and he won nicely.

“He rides with confidence, he listens which is good, and he’s not frightened to have a crack at the stable.”

The last apprentice Snowden had in his team was Jett Stanley, before him Cejay Graham and Nick Heywood laid the platform for their careers with him while Josh Parr wrapped the last year or so of his apprenticeship with the trainer not long after he started training in his own right.

Aside from the experience of working and riding in the city, where Snowden said Nock, who claims 3kg in the city and provincials, has room for improvement is in his confidence out of the saddle.

It’s something Nock himself is well aware of, back in July in a Racing NSW magazine feature he said he still has a way to go before he’s comfortable in front of the camera.

“He's very country orientated, he’s not shy but I don’t want to throw him in the deep end and put too much pressure on him,’’ Snowden said.

“When he does videos he doesn’t look at the camera, just little things like that. But I’d rather that than him be too over the top and be cocky and arrogant.”

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