‘I just needed a second job’: Apprentice making up for late start

Unlike many of her fellow apprentices, Shannen Llewellyn had nothing to do with horses growing up.

The Newcastle-based jockey, with 144 winners across a little more than two years of riding, started out in racing as a second job to make extra money. No rodeo, pony club or family connections.

“I just saw ads for it and it was 3.30am to 8.30am and that suited me. I needed the money,” Llewellyn said of her getting into stable work.

“I was an assistant manager at Woolworths and I just needed a second job, so I started working at the track because it was early, and then I just wanted to learn to ride, and I still had time.

“I worked for Kim Waugh at Wyong and I couldn’t get a go at Wyong, so I moved to Dubbo and learned to ride there.

“I never really sat on a horse before then and I taught myself to ride I reckon, maybe a year before I moved.”

Now 25, Llewellyn has proven a quick learner, racking up five city wins at a strike rate of 16.7 per cent this season, after transferring a year ago from Jane Clement’s stable near Tamworth to Newcastle trainer Nathan Doyle.

“I out rode my [country] claim, so I just needed to take that next step.

“I went out to Dubbo [with trainer Brett Robb] and got a start, that’s where I learned my craft.

“My family is in Newcastle, so happy to be back there. I’m happy there, and then just come down [to Sydney] when the opportunities present.”

One of her city victories was at the Scone standalone Saturday program last month with Doyle-trained Lightning Glory, and she chases a first Saturday success in Sydney at Rosehill with the four-year-old, which is on a three-race winning streak.

Lightning Glory was a $7.50 chance in the seventh, a 1300m benchmark 78 handicap for the boys. He was scratched at Rosehill on May 30 because of a heavy track but was kept up to the mark with a sharp trial win under Llewellyn at home.

“He gets very fresh and very well, but he is feeling good and he had a nice gallop on Tuesday.”

She also has stablemate Aroha Stone ($12), which she has taken to two wins, resuming in the ninth, a 1300m benchmark 78 handicap for the girls.

“I hope he runs her from that barrier,” she said of the draw in 13.

“I think she will definitely show them that she’s there. Being first up, she generally runs a nice race fresh.”

Llewellyn also rides Hollywood Gold (trainer Peter Mills) in the Highway Handicap and Who Ever Thought (Jeremy Gask) in the last.

Doyle was keen to give the three-kilogram claimer more opportunities in town.

“She’s continued to grow and her riding is trending the right way,” Doyle said.

“She’s