Katelyn Mallyon is the apprentice of the moment and looks the one to follow in the off season judging by her impressive form highlighted by her first metropolitan double at Moonee Valley.
The 17-year-old grand-daughter of three-time Caulfield Cup winning jockey Mick Mallyon took the riding honours at the Saturday meeting with a double, her first on a city track.
After an exasperating run of second placings in town, Mallyon won her first metropolitan race aboard the the Pat Carey-trained Karoo at Sandown on August 24.
At the Valley she won aboard the Robbie Laing-trained Maquina ($4.60), who came from near the rear of the field in the 1500m mares event.
She then completed her double on the Peter Healey-trained Galbraith ($19), who sat on the rail just off the pace, in the 1000m sprint.
“It’s a big thrill. I always wanted to ride a winner at Moonee Valley,” Mallyon said.
“Things are going really well, I’m getting a lot of support now that I’m at Flemington and it’s been great.”
Apprenticed to her father Brett, Mallyon’s Valley double came on the heels of her first treble at Wangaratta last Monday.
After winning on Galbraith, Mallyon had to make her way back to the scales on foot after she was dislodged by Galbraith.
“I’ll forgive him for that because he fought pretty hard,” she said.
The Moonee Valley meeting brought the return of fellow apprentice Jake Noonan to the city winners’ circle on the Anthony Freedman trained Rescue Mission after a long absence.
Noonan suffered severe concussion when his mount Safe, prepared by Lee Freedman, was the victim of a racing incident and fell in a 1200m event at Flemington on May 7.
The 18-year-old was Victoria’s leading apprentice last season despite missing most of the last three months.
Frustrated in his attempts to get a medical clearance to resume race riding, Noonan headed overseas where he rode out for Andrew Balding at Newmarket and also for Godolphin.
AAP TURF
