Fresh from a breakthrough metropolitan win at Sandown, Stephanie Thornton will try to add a first Flemington victory in the Rising Stars Final when she competes in a race against her fellow apprentice riders.
The 18-year-old rode the 50th winner of her career and first at metropolitan level in Melbourne on Wednesday aboard Tasmanian mare Miss It And A Bit.
Thornton is booked for two Flemington rides on Saturday with the first aboard six-year-old mare Step The Pedal in the Rising Stars Final (1600m), a race restricted to apprentice riders.
Thornton had her first race ride on Miss It And A Bit in Hobart in November 2015 and she also has previous experience riding Step The Pedal who is now in the care of trainer Patrick Payne.
“I’ve actually ridden that mare a lot in Tassie,” Thornton said.
“She’s one of my favourite horses so I’m excited to have the ride on her.
“She’s been racing really well and her last start at Flemington, I thought was a really nice run.
“Hopefully if we can get a little bit more give in the track she’ll be right in it.”
Thornton has ridden Step The Pedal three times for two placings when the mare was in the care of top Tasmanian trainer Scott Brunton.
The six-year-old finished seventh last start at Flemington over 1400m, a race won by in-form Schism, having won her previous five starts in Tasmania on soft or heavy ground.
Thornton has only ridden at Flemington once before and is also booked to ride outsider Aagas in Saturday’s George Watson Handicap (2000m).
She has recently transferred her apprenticeship from her father Glenn, who trains at Geelong, to Cranbourne-based trainer Mick Kent on loan for three months.
Thornton has been a regular visitor to Tasmania in the early stages of her career, riding 28 winners there, and believes it has been a good grounding.
“It gave me a lot of race experience, and just race awareness is the biggest thing,” she said.
