ALBURY apprentice jockey Lily Coombe enjoyed instant success in her comeback to the saddle at Murrumbidgee Turf Club on Saturday.
Coombe returned to race riding on Saturday after four months on the sidelines and enjoyed success in her very first ride back.
Coombe steered Kristall Cove ($4.00) to a dominant victory in the Narrandera Club Motor Inn – Charles Sturt Hotel Maiden Handicap (1200m).
Coombe and fellow female apprentice Brooke Sweeney both came down in a nasty race fall at Wodonga in Feburary and spent almost a week in Hospital with concussion.
Coombe resumed at Narrandera’s transferred meeting at Wagga and grabbed a first and a second from two rides, both for her boss, Brett Cavanough.
“It was a good result for Lily, she realises that it’s all about preparation,” Cavanough said.
“Like Blake Shinn said to me one day, it’s all about preparation.
“She could have taken six rides but she wanted to ease back into it, she was even a bit jelly legged at the end of the mile on Cat Tales.
“Like it is with horses, you won’t be fully fit for a while, you have to have racing.
“She’s happy just to jump on my horses until she’s fit.”
Coombe is only in the second year of her apprenticeship and has already ridden more than 40 winners.
Cavanough has a lot of time for the Albury local.
“She was riding pretty good when she went down,” he said.
“She’s a good person and she’s pretty intelligent.”
Kristall Cove, a three-year-old filly, arrived at Cavanough's stable after an unsuccessful debut for Peter Moody.
She broke through at her third start for Cavanough on Saturday but may not be around for too much longer.
Owned by Greg Perry, he is keen to sell the filly and Cavanough may give her one more start before moving her on.
The win helped Cavanough in his tilt for an 11th Southern District premiership but not as much as he hoped as Trevor Sutherland and Chris Heywood also enjoyed wins on the day.
“I’m happy to sit back and watch Chris and Trevor go at it, it’s good to see two other trainers having a crack,” he said.
“As much as I’d love to win it, there’s no pressure on me.”
Cavanough is four and a half wins behind with six race meetings remaining.
