Nicola Burns rode her first winner © Photo Healy Racing
Young apprentice Nicola Burns enjoyed a red letter day at the Curragh when partnering her first winner under rules aboard Genuine Jim in the concluding Al Basti Equiworld Dubai Handicap.
Trained by the winning jockeys dad, Robbie(Burns), the well supported 15/2(from 14/1) chance was building on a promising effort when fourth at this track last time.
In a race where market leader Purring Along led the field on the far side, Burns tracked the pace on the stands side, sitting just off Lismacbryan Hill
As the near side came to the fore over a furlong out, Burns swept to the front on the son of Galileo Gold, staying on strongly to record a memorable one-and-a-half-length success.
“It's a special day and it was a long finish watching that,” said Robbie Burns.
“I'm delighted for Nicola and delighted for the owner, Tony McLoughlin, who is a great supporter of mine. We wouldn't be here without Tony. We'll enjoy today.
“We've had good fun with the pony racing as a family over the past two years. She had two good years, we'll move on now and see how this goes. Hopefully she can keep improving.
“She only has her licence three weeks and had nine rides before today. I thought she was maybe going to do it for Jarlath (Fahey) in the last (on Warazam who finished fifth).
“It's great the support she's getting from other people and the support she got from all the people at the pony racing. It's helped her along.
“She's 16 and she finished out the pony racing season to get as much experience as she could, it's a great school.”
Additional reporting by Gary Carson.
