Former Devonport apprentice Raquel Clark has opened her international account in a big way, winning a group 3 race in Singapore on Sunday riding an $81 outsider.
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Clark gave a copybook display on What's New in the $175,000 Silver Bowl, sitting just behind the leaders on the rail before getting a split in the home straight.
She described the win as "probably my biggest thrill in racing."
"To be here winning a race means so much and to do it in a group race goes beyond my wildest dreams," she told the Singapore Turf Club.
"It's a great way to win my first race here.
"I knew my turn would come eventually. I've been getting a few bad rides, but someone's got to ride them and I'm glad I've finally got on top of a good one."
What's New is prepared by former Victorian trainer Cliff Brown.
Clark was the only female rider in the 16-horse field and What's New the only mare.
Clark is riding in Singapore as part of her prize for being dux of the South Australian Apprentice Academy last year.
She has ridden at four meetings over the past two weekends and will ride at another two at Kranji on Friday and Saturday before returning home.
Clark, 25, moved to Adelaide in March 2017 on loan to leading trainer Leon MacDonald. She made the move permanent three months later.
She didn't start riding in Tasmania until she was 21 and won on her first ride at Spreyton in June 2015. The following season she was Tasmania's leading apprentice and finished second on the senior jockeys' premiership.
By the time she moved to Adelaide, she had won 90 races in her home state and out-ridden her claim.
Clark has ridden 123 winners in SA this season and is a runaway leader of the statewide premiership. She also leads the metropolitan premiership with 42 wins, one ahead of Jamie Kah.
LATE CHARGE
Gareth Rattray is making a late charge towards the 2018-19 drivers' premiership.
Rattray made it eight wins in 10 days when he scored on Sea Sky, Maybe Jack and Lutetia Midfrew at Mowbray on Sunday night.
He now has 56 wins for the season and, although still 16 behind the low-flying Mark Yole, there is almost three months to go.
Yole is in good form himself, driving three winners over the weekend's two meetings.
Rattray won the premiership for 10 seasons in a row starting in 2005-06.
Yole ended his run when he won the title in 2015-16.
