Evans starts new life riding in Brisbane

By Glenn Davis

BRISBANE, Sept 9 AAP - Talented apprentice Brent Evans starts a new chapter in rebuilding his controversial career when he rides at Doomben on Saturday.

Evans returned home from Victoria last month after being sacked in June by his master Mick Kent for not turning up to work for four days straight.

The indiscretion followed a positive drug test to "ice" at Pakenham races which resulted in a three-month suspension which was subsequently reduced to two months.

Kent went into bat for the 19-year-old at the drug inquiry but lost patience with Evans when he was a "no show" for trackwork.

However, Evans, who spent 12 months with Kent, has good reason to defend his work absence.

"I had a few days off and went home to attend my aunty's funeral," he said.

"I didn't tell Mick Kent but I told his foreman I would be away.

"By the time I got back everyone was blowing up."

Evans only has six months remaining in his apprenticeship which he is now serving with last season's premier trainer Rob Heathcote.

He's returned to live at Toowoomba where he's bought two home units and commutes to Brisbane three days a week to ride trackwork.

"I've bought two units in Toowoomba and I'm travelling down a few times a week to Brisbane to ride work for Robbie Heathcote," he said.

"Eventually I plan to move to Brisbane full-time."

Evans has had several rides on the provincial circuit at the Gold Coast and Caloundra since returning to Queensland and had his first city ride since returning aboard the Tony Gollan-trained By Choice who finished sixth in a maiden at Eagle Farm on Wednesday.

Evans, who was the top apprentice in Queensland prior to his departure, has put his troubled times in Victoria behind him.

"It was good experience riding in Victoria and I learnt a lot," he said.

"But I fell in with the wrong crowd down there and I'm keen to start over again."

Heathcote is confident Evans can get his life back on track and has rewarded him with the rides on Eureka in Saturday's Nom Du Jeu Handicap (2020m) and Bell Academy in the Ormiston College Old Collegian's Handicap (1350m).

Evans will also ride the Tony Sears-trained Braebrook in the Ormiston College Board Of Directors Handicap (1010m) and Cat D'Antibes for Gillian Heinrich in the Hanrickcurran Plate (1200m).

"Brent realises he has made some lifestyle errors and mixed with the wrong crowd down south," Heathcote said.

"He's working hard for me. There's no doubting the lad's talent and ability to ride and it's up to him now.

"He's only got six months to go before he joins the ranks of senior riders."

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