Luke Tarrant returns to Saturday racing

Former star apprentice Luke Tarrant will make his return to Brisbane Saturday racing on two of his favourite horses at Eagle Farm.

Tarrant hasn’t ridden at a metropolitan Saturday meeting since December 19 but has been back riding at midweek and provincial meetings for two weeks.

The troubled Tarrant was disqualified from racing for six months on a positive drug charge in January and has since been charged by police with drug and property offences away from the track.

Tarrant intends to defend those police charges when he appears in court in December.

The leading apprentice in the 2014-15 season, Tarrant has ridden two winners from 20 rides since returning on August 20.

His first winner back was Airlie Reward who he will ride in the Three-Year-Old (1400m) on Saturday.

Airlie Reward’s trainer Troy Hall has stuck by Tarrant and was thrilled to give the young rider his first winner back and now hopes to also provide Tarrant’s first winner back in the city.

“Luke is a top rider and hopefully he has learned his lesson and is ready to make the most of his talent,” Hall said.

Tarrant will also be reunited with the 2015 Magic Millions winner Le Chef who who runs in a 1400m-benchmark 75.