Erin Ellison will still be pinching herself following a winning debut at Canberra on Friday.
Riding for her trainer, Rob Potter, on her home track, the debutant jumped aboard Spice Alley in the 1206m Benchmark 50 Handicap.
Commencing nicely from gate six, Ellison elected to sit just behind the early leader Geostorm (Brodie Loy, $6), with the leader getting away with some cheap mid-race sectionals.
After turning for home, it was a two-horse race, with Geostorm looking the winner before Spice Alley timed her run to perfection, delivering Ellison a winning debut and the biggest moment of her blossoming career.
“She’s such an incredible little horse,” Ellison said post-race.
“She jumped and put herself into the perfect spot. I got her around the corner and I was like, ‘roar at her and go for home and see what we can do’, and she was just so tough right to the end.”
From Hervey Bay in Queensland, Ellison came down to Canberra a few years ago and after getting a taste for the sport, thought she ‘would give it a good go’.
The apprentice didn’t go into Friday’s race with any lofty ambitions but was thrilled to win on debut.
“Being the first ride, you never know,” Ellison said.
“I just thought if we can get her around and get us both home safe, but she just went so well, and I was like, give her a good go, and so I did.”
Winning for her trainer and on her home track put the exclamation mark on what has been a long but rewarding road to the races for the 23-year-old.
“It’s just incredible, and I’m so thankful for every single person along the way that has helped me get here,” Ellison said.
“It’s been a long way, but we did it, and we did it quite well.”
