YVETTE Lewis' dream job was to ride, and at Tamworth on Saturday the teenage apprentice made a memorable riding debut, winning her first race with her first ride.
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The 19-year-old from Tingha has been working away dreaming of a riding career since she joined Sue Grill's stable in December 2017 and on Saturday it all fell into place beautifully when Hammoon Dancer won the $12,000 Downtown Magazine Class 1 & Maiden Plate (1600m).
Hammoon Dancer had drawn barrier 10 and Lewis had thought she might be able to start well and be sitting fourth, fifth or sixth in running.
However it was much better, she found her herself in front after 100m and over on the fence.
"I thought we might be fourth or fifth but it was good to lead," she said.
"She settled really well and nothing went around her. Once we were in the straight I didn't look back, just said come on girl, come on girl."
Hammoon Dancer, a four-year-old daughter of Power Of Destiny, was having her 18th start and chasing her second win.
She didn't stop either, kicking away to a two-and-a-half length win from Craig Martin's Sadler's Rest with Michelle Fleming's Smooth Factor a long head away third.
"I knew she wouldn't stop," Grills said of Hammoon Dancer.
"That was beautiful. It's a big thrill for everyone."
She said Lewis has worked hard since arriving at her stable.
"She'd had a good grounding too, been to pony camps and everything but hadn't ridden track work before," she said.
That changed straight away and all the hard work and early mornings have paid off for Lewis.
"It was my dream job, to ride," she said.
"But once I started growing I thought I'd get too tall. I started with Sue and when I kept my weight at 51.5kg I was right. It's all been worth it."
Lewis admits to being "excited and nervous" before her first ride.
"Once I got to the gates (barriers) I was right," she said.