Sunday’s Sale Turf Club meeting was cut short after just five races due to heavy rain, but it was a day that Cranbourne apprentice Ruby Lamont will never forget.
Following race five, stewards conducted a track inspection after 25mm of rainfall had fallen since the start of the meeting. The track was deemed unsafe, and the remainder of the meeting was abandoned.
Despite the washout, Lamont achieved a milestone, steering Icaro ($8.50) to her first career win in the 1732-metre maiden for her mentor, Michael Kent. Lamont gave Icaro an outstanding ride, sitting patiently on the fence while short-priced favourite Cushioned ($1.60) raced to her outside.
In her 22nd career ride, Lamont found the perfect passage into contention around the final bend. Icaro surged clear late under the urgings of an emotional Lamont, who said she was thrilled with the result.
“It’s taken a while to get here, but I’m grateful for my boss and everyone around me who’s helped me get here today. I just have to say thank you to everybody,” Lamont said.
She was also quick to praise
the horse.
“He’s an absolute trooper, that horse. He did really, really well.”
Lamont described her
journey so far as a valuable learning experience.
“It’s definitely taken all the rides I’ve had until now to learn what I needed tactically. I felt like that helped us get there and come out with the win,” she said.
Kent, who has overseen Lamont’s development
over the past two years, was equally delighted.
“I’m rapt for her. I’m a bit emotional actually. She’s worked really hard; they do a lot of work, these kids. She turns up every morning at four o’clock. She’s been doing that for a couple of years,” he said.
Lamont’s celebrations were slightly dampened by a suspension. She pleaded guilty to a charge of careless riding under AR131(a) after permitting Icaro, which was laying out, to shift out when not sufficiently clear of Gold Label Patch near the finish.
This resulted in Gold Label Patch being checked when tightened for room between Cushioned, which had shifted in slightly.
Lamont had her permit to ride suspended for seven race meetings, effective from December 23, 2025, until December 31, 2025. She will be eligible to return on January 1, 2026. In determining the penalty, stewards considered her guilty plea, her clean record, the low-range severity of the incident, her inexperience, and the minor contribution by Cushioned.
