Young Wagga apprentice jockey Molly Bourke guided Sweet Jamaica ($21) to an upset victory in the Tooheys Extra Dry Maiden Plate (1180m).

It was Craig's first winner with just his seventh starter and comes a little over a year after switching from harness racing to try thoroughbreds.

"Really happy," Craig said.

"I thought she would improve from her run at Narrandera and maybe sneak into a placing but to get the win was even better."

A radiographer at Narrandera Hospital, Craig decided to switch to thoroughbreds for a new challenge.

"It is a good, totally different, hard to adjust your body to being on top of them rather than being in the cart but it's probably done me a favour with a bit of fitness and that sort of stuff," Craig said.

"As a kid, I was always into riding horses. I was probably always too big to do that so obviously harness racing allowed me to be involved in horses and do all the work myself.

"I just thought it's another challenge and I'll get back on them, at 38."

Originally from Chiltern, Craig moved to Wagga for university and played Australian rules with Turvey Park. He trained pacers for eight years at Narrandera before making the change to gallopers.

It was Sweet Jamaica's first win at start 18, after originally being with Paul Perry. Craig expected improvement in what was the mare's fifth start for him, but admitted his surprise with the win.

"She worked the best she ever had last Sunday for me and gave me a great feel, so I did think there would be a fair bit of improvement, just getting fitter each week but I probably didn't expect to win," he said.

Craig praised Bourke for the winning ride, the second of her career.

"It was a really, really nice ride. Timed everything perfect," he said.

"I thought she rode her well the start before and was keen to keep her on. Hopefully she'll get even more winners."

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