Well, it didn’t take too long for Australia to lay claim to another international success story.
Former 5-star Eventer and multiple Australian representative, Crystal Conning, has now exploded into her new sport with a bang.
As a jockey, representing Australia in the United States, Conning rode her first winner on Saturday.
It was at Belterra Par, in Cincinnati, Ohio and it was on the appropriately named Gogetter.
The rain poured the morning of the race, the track was a quagmire, or slop as they call it over there, and her mount was a $16 chance.
But she jumped it out well, had it travelling on the bridle in 3rd spot to the bend, then made her move as they turned.
Her main task was to catch the tearaway leader who had taken off 600m from home and caught all riders in the big field of 15 napping. It put up 5 lengths, but Crystal woke to the move earliest and she started to reel it in.
“What a nice horse this is,” she said.
“We were disappointed when the heavy rain came and the race was transferred from the turf to the dirt track, but he handled the slop incredibly well.
“I think there’s plenty of upside to him. I loved the way he chased down that leader.”
The race was a 3YO Mdn over 1700m.
“This was my only ride for the day and my first American winner. I couldn’t be any happier,” she said.
Belterra Park raceway is just over an hour from her base in Louisville, Kentucky.
The win was so important for her career now that she has moved from NSW to ride in the U.S and was so professionally done, she has landed herself a manager!
More wins are in store, especially as she gets a 3kg allowance in the U.S.