Apprentice Madison Lloyd has had a day to remember, winning her first city race when Beautiful Bee scored narrowly at Sandown Hillside.
The 19-year-old was having only her fifth ride in town and said she couldn’t describe how excited she was after her narrow win in the 1000m race on Wednesday.
She is apprenticed to Nathan Hobson at Swan Hill and has ridden 65 winners.
Lloyd said she was thrilled to have landed her maiden metropolitan victory for Benalla stud master and trainer Russell Osborne.
“He’s been a great supporter of mine. He’s always putting me on so that’s made it even better,” Lloyd said.
Lloyd said she’s still learning about race riding and has a long way to go.
She added she was following a deliberate strategy mapped out between herself, her manager Rachael Allen and Hobson.
“There’s quite a few apprentices coming through. We think if we wait until next winter and I’ve outridden my country claim, I’m going to get lots of opportunities with my three kilogram claim,” Lloyd said.
Lloyd was a pony club, dressage and eventing rider before she went to Hobson’s for work experience.
“I followed my sister there and I’ve never left,” she said.
Osborne bred Beautiful Bee, who is by Redente who stands at stud at Riverbank Farm, Benalla.
Another apprentice, Will Price, rode a double at the Sandown Hillside meeting on Vuni and Mister Mogul.
