Fresh off a move from Tamworth to Ballina, apprentice hoop Yvette Lewis has already made her mark in the Northern Rivers, riding three winners in quick succession including a nice double at Grafton on Monday.
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"I really appreciate the chance and I can't thank the owners and trainers enough for the opportunities," Lewis said.
A product of Tingha and the daughter of former country jockey Virginia Heron and older sister of fellow jockey Zara Lewis, the apprentice was originally under the guidance of Tamworth trainer Sue Grills.
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Now based in Ballina with Stephen Lee, the young jockey only has one win left on her country claim, and once borders reopen, she is set to focus her attention on progressing to the provincials.
"The whole idea of me coming to Ballina is so I can have a three-kilo claim for the Gold Coast, Toowoomba and places like that, but the border is shut at the moment, and I can't go there," Lewis said.
"He (Stephen Lee) had asked me to come up here a couple of times and I kept saying no, and I was getting down on my claim and I needed to move; so I decided to make the move."
Since relocating to the Northern Rivers, Lewis has been loving life and enjoying her time in the saddle.
"It's just a better place in general. I really enjoy the people I'm working with; we are always having a laugh and the weather is warmer and it has been a good move," Lewis said.
"It has really helped my mental health moving up here too, plus it's been good for my riding.
"Between Steve (Lee) and Mark Gorman, those two have helped with a few things with my riding, just little tips and tricks to help, and it's definitely working."
The sky looks to be the limit for Lewis, but the level-headed hoop wasn't getting too carried away, and as cliché as it may sound, she was taking her career one ride at a time.
"I just go out there thinking I will ride them the best I can and if they are good enough, they will be good enough to win," Lewis said.
"I never think I'm going to get a winner. I go out there, do my job and ride them the best I can."
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