Lyons junior rides first winner at Bellewstown

Trainer Ger Lyons’ daughter Kerri Lyons registered her first winner on just her second ride this evening, winning the concluding Thatch Bar & Katies Kitchen (Q.R.) Race at Bellewstown today on her father’s Sandstorming

Carrying the colours of Sean Jones, the son of Zoffany was produced with his challenge in the closing stages and in the end edged past Alton Bay for a neck win.

Lyons’ debut ride came on Rabbie The Bard at Dundalk on March 3 when the pair finished 12th and following today’s memorable success, her proud father Ger Lyons said “that's very special. You just want them back in one piece but it's nice to be able to give her a winner as she does a lot at home and is a good worker. She has just got her degree in business studies.”

“We didn't expect to win - I knew I'd given her a nice ride around but it's one thing expecting and another thing doing it!

“She rides plenty of work at home with Colin and all the jockeys and she's a good rider, and a good event rider, but she hasn't the experience on the race track. Going out there is a different story but she did everything perfectly and she kept her head.

“Unfortunately for the horse he's just earned himself another race next weekend but we'll give him a good holiday after that. If he gives her a good spin in that Ladies Derby we'll be over the moon and that's a bonus tonight.

“He's a nice horse for those events and will give her a good spin. I don't have many horses for her as I don't have any bumper horses but she can ride and hopefully after a couple of rides like that, it'll enlighten a few lads and she might get some outside rides.”

"She's already a better jockey than her father and her uncle (Shane Lyons, the trainer’s assistant)!"

Quotes from Gary Carson