Newcomer to Queensland riding ranks shooting for first metropolitan victory

By Jordan Gerrans

A champion of the game has delivered a new apprentice hoop to the Queensland riding ranks in Yvette Lewis.

The 22-year-old Lewis has hit the ground running on the Gold Coast in her new venture, riding a winning double on her adopted home track earlier this month.

And, the keen youngster – who still claims three at provincial and metropolitan level – will go in search of her first city victory of her career this Wednesday afternoon at Doomben.

Lewis has a year left to run in her apprenticeship and was living and riding around the Ballina area after out riding her country claim.

She was keen to have a crack at the next level and contacted former top-class rider Corey Brown, who earlier this year was appointed the new Head Jockey Coach for Racing NSW to mentor apprentice jockeys.

While Brown has stepped into the next stage of his life in the industry, he began his riding career in country NSW before transferring his indentures to Rosehill trainer and former top jockey, Neil Campton.

Neil’s son Adam is these days a fledgling trainer on the Gold Coast.

Just as Neil gave him an opportunity all those years ago, Brown suggested Lewis also try and use the Campton family to take her career to the next level.

“Corey was great for me through the process and no doubt he will be fantastic for all the apprentices in NSW going forward,” Lewis said.

In her recent winning double at the Gold Coast, one of the victories was for new boss Campton with in-form gelding Hodgson.

The youthful trainer is smiling with the way his new rider has settled into his Aquis Park-based facility.

“She is a great kid and a hard worker,” Campton said.

“Everything you ask of her, she does it.

“She listens – that is something I really like about her – and she wants to be better.

“She has slotted into the team perfectly.”

Lewis is nearing the ton of winners on her career tally and is hopeful of making a splash on the Gold Coast with just a year to go in her apprenticeship.

She has been in Queensland for just over two months.

“It has been really good, I cannot complain about being with Adam, he is a really good guy,” Lewis said.

“He is a really good boss and he has helped me a lot since I have been up here.

“He has been great for me.

“Hopefully I can get on a bit of a roll following running a double the other day.”

The emerging youngster has had half a dozen metropolitan rides in her career without yet breaking through.

She arguably has her best chance yet this week to grab a city victory aboard Cossie for trainer John Wallace.

The grey mare was the other leg of Lewis’ winning double earlier this month and she has had the booking at each of her last five trips to the races.

After drawing the inside alley when acceptances were released on Monday morning, Lewis hopes to be able to take up the lead in the Benchmark 68 contest over 1200 metres on Wednesday.

“I have been riding her work and have been doing a bit for John Wallace, she is a tough mare,” Lewis said.

“She tries her heart out every time she goes around.

“She has been a good horse to them and it was good to see her get another win on the board the other day.

“She is a horse who likes to lead and being the 1200 metres again, we will go out with the intention to lead again.

“If someone wants to go quicker, we can take a nice sit.”

Lewis' youngster sister Zara is also an apprentice hoop south of the border.

They are the daughter of former country hoop Virginia Heron.