Madi Young can't recall the moment - if there was one moment - that she stopped being "terrified" of horses.
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But that acute issue vanished somewhere between competing in mini trots and then graduating to the big leagues.
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And at Tamworth Paceway last Thursday, the 22-year-old drove her 100th career winner.
Now based in Tamworth and driving for her stepfather, Greg Coney, the Nowra-raised talent is comfortable where she is after driving for prominent trainers while based in Sydney.
I wasn't gonna go into the big horses: it was never really an aim for me ... I was still pretty scared at the age of 15-16.
- Madi Young
She said: "I wasn't gonna go into the big horses: it was never really an aim for me ... I was still pretty scared at the age of 15-16."
She added: "I never had any expectations, really, if I'm gonna be honest.
"I have no idea how I went from being terrified of horses all together to now: I've had two falls and I'm still going around every week."
A self-confessed "easy breezy" person, she didn't even know she was one triumph away from the century until Tamworth trainer Tony Missen texted her to reveal she was on 99 wins.
Young - who drove a winner in Newcastle on Monday afternoon - claimed the 100 behind Helix.
"When I went out there, I sort of knew it was gonna win," she said.
"I know it's [100 wins] an achievement, but it's just like another step, really, to look forward to what else is ahead."
Young - winner of the 2018 NSW Rising Stars series - will soon move to Bathurst "for a month or so" to get in more racing.
A return to Sydney is not on her mind.
"Sydney's obviously where you want to be," she said. "But it's probably not just for me at this stage."
Young believes she has "sort of been there and done that" regarding Sydney.
"One day I might like to go back there, but not at this time: I'm pretty happy where I am right now."
