Lindop first woman to win Victoria Derby

Clare Lindop took her trailblazing career to a new level at Flemington when she became the first woman to ride the winner of the Victoria Derby.

Not long after Bart Cummings booked her to ride Moatize in Tuesday's Melbourne Cup, the 29-year-old produced the ride of her life on Rebel Raider to cause one of the biggest upsets in the history of the Classic at $101. "It is absolutely awesome," Lindop said as she relished only the second Group One win of her career.
"My legs were like jelly coming back (to scale)."
Rebel Raider was behind a wall of horses rounding the home turn and in the home
straight shouldered the odds-on favourite Whobegotyou out of the way to make his
run.
Lindop said she knew Rebel Raider's strength was his staying power and her goal was
to make it a real staying test.
The son of Reset sprinted brilliantly to pinch a winning break over Whobegotyou who
was gallant in defeat finishing second 2-1/2 lengths away while Pre- Eminence was
another 2-1/4 lengths back in third.
Despite the huge odds it was a popular victory, with the crowd cheering Lindop back
down the race as fellow jockeys congratulated her.
"It is very exciting," Lindop said.
"I never doubted the ability of this horse. It has just been a while to get him right."
After finishing third to The Tiger in the Geelong Classic, Rebel Raider was racing
in blinkers for the first time and Lindop had him positioned to win on the turn.
She said trainer Leon Macdonald left her to plan where to position him in the race
after he drew the outside gate in the field of 15.
"We thought there would be enough speed to break the field up and I was really happy
when we got in," Lindop said.
She said her plan was to beat Whobegotyou off the mark in the sprint home.
"I thought he (Rebel Raider) didn't want to shoulder out but to the horse's credit
he found another gear today," Lindop said.
Lindop has consistently broken new ground for female jockeys since she served her
apprenticeship with Frank Byrne at Warrnambool, Jack Barling at Hamilton and Byron
Cozamanis in Adelaide.
Her first major success was on Debben in the 2003 SA St Leger and she rode him when
she became the first Australian female to ride in the Melbourne Cup later that year.
Last year she finished fifth on Dolphin Jo.
Rebel Raider was her second ride in the Victoria Derby after finishing 15th on
Gallant Guru in 2005.
She was the first Australian female rider to win a Group One race when Exalted Time
landed the 2006 Adelaide Cup.
She is now hoping she can add another chapter to her career next Tuesday and give
Cummings his 12th Melbourne Cup - and win her first.