Apprentice Mikaela Lawrence registered a breakthrough city win guiding home the Patrick Payne-trained Bigolino at Sandown.
But the victory was soured for Lawrence who was fined $1500 and suspended for 11 meetings for being five whip strikes over prior to the 100m mark.
Correct weight was delayed on the Thoroughbred Club Handicap (1600m) on Saturday as Racing Victoria stewards identified a whip breach by Lawrence before allowing the result to stand.
Bigolino ($9) eventually scored a short-head victory over Blazerro ($18) with Thalassophile ($4.80) a further 1-½ lengths away third.
Lawrence said her career had been plagued by injuries which included a ruptured spleen, a broken leg, a foot and a hand, in her words, to name a few.
“I’ve got all my injury time back and just lately you have to ride 50 winners to extend it (apprenticeship) another year, which I’ve been able to do,” Lawrence said.
“Hopefully I’ll get another year and can keep coming back here.”
Lawrence is apprenticed to Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr at Cranbourne and heads to Payne’s Plumpton property once a week to ride work.
She said her career was at the crossroads two months ago when she was struggling to get rides, let alone winners.
But a treble at Wodonga on May 28 was followed by a double at Hamilton three days later which got the ball rolling for Lawrence.
Those five winners were in consecutive races with Bigolino being the fourth of the five.
“It’s really hard coming back from injury,” Lawrence said.
“When you leave, everyone replaces you. Everyone fills your shoes, and they forget about you, so it was really slow to get back in.
“Winners came probably once a month You need momentum, and we’ve got momentum now, which is good.”
