Racing: Apprentice kicks off in great style

She never thought she would have had such a successful start to her riding career, says Ashley Frye. Photo / Thinkstock

Ashley Frye is finding this racing lark much to her liking.

The 17-year-old Rangiora apprentice rode her third winner in four days when she won a 1220m maiden race at the Otago Racing Club's Cromwell meeting yesterday.

Frye was on Gallant Babe, who came home with a withering burst to win.

She notched the first two wins at Timaru last Thursday and yesterday was special as Gallant Babe is trained by her father Danny Frye, of Balcairn.

Ashley said she thought she may have left her run too late yesterday but in the end timed it just right.

"I was not too sure on the line whether I had got there. At the top of the straight I was in a few tight angles and had to angle out a bit," she said. "I wasn't that comfortable but as soon as I got out, I just pushed the accelerator."

She never thought she would have had such a successful start to her riding career.

"It is a dream start, really. It would have never been as easy as this. Way above any expectations.

"I have always done pony club and that and then with Dad, I started mucking out stables and getting involved. Then I started track work when I was about 14."

The former Rangiora High School pupil will be riding next at Riccarton on Friday. Her father said Ashley had that natural feel on a horse and knew how to treat them well.

"She's probably just as good on the ground then she is on their back. She has got that natural feel for horses."

He paid credit to his partner, Kay Young, who had given Ashley the grounding around horses.

Danny Frye is a former jockey and still rides at the occasional amateur meeting, though he prefers to watch these days.Otago Daily Times