Former Swedish pony rider Rebecca Bronett Prag has celebrated a significant milestone at Rosehill with country-trained stayer Knights Armour delivering her first Saturday metropolitan win.
Indentured to renowned horseman Keith Dryden in Canberra, Bronett Prag was having her 20th ride in town for her second win, the other coming aboard the same galloper in a midweek race at Warwick Farm in May.
She described the feeling as “unreal”, although with the first three placegetters spread across the track, Bronett Prag wasn’t initially sure she’d won.
“I wasn’t sure that I got it but it’s very special, especially on this horse that I’ve had a lot of luck with,” Bronett Prag said.
“This is our fifth win together now so it’s great and especially for the owner who only trains one horse and is doing a fantastic job with him.”
Knights Armour is trained at Braidwood by Ross Lavis, who is also a part owner and the six-year-old’s strapper.
He said he was confident the horse would run out the 2400m journey of Saturday’s Mostyn Cooper Handicap despite being previously untested over the distance, describing him as “tough as nails”.
Knights Armour started at $12 with betting sites and scored by a half-length over Good Banter ($4.80) with Fioprospero ($6) another length away third.
Bronett Prag was born in Sweden and has been around horses for most of her life.
After riding in the equivalent of picnic-level pony races in her home country, she came to Australia 10 years ago to garner some more experience and never went back.
Now an Australian citizen, she hoped Saturday’s success might usher in more opportunities in town.
“I have almost outridden my claim in the country so I am starting to get a few opportunities and I’ll see where it will take me,” she said.
