Claiming apprentice Anthony Allen became the 17th member, who graduated from the Batch of 22 in September of last year to enter the win column at Caymanas Park.

Sitting atop Makhi, trained by Phillip Lee in the 10th race on Ash Wednesday, Allen, after biding his time, produced the 7-2 chance just before entering the final furlong (200m) marker then skittered away for a comfortable 3 ¾ length win.

It was the lone mount on the programme for Allen, who said that he made the mount count.

“I am pleased with winning my first race and now that the bug is off my back, I can now settle in and produce some more winning rides. But to achieve this aim, I know I will have to continue to be more diligent to duty.

“I know that I have the ability, I also have the height and always wanted to be part of horse racing as I love to be around horses,” Allen shared after his maiden win.

Allen said that his interest to venture into horse racing developed while attending high school and credits his uncle Garfield Gordon who at the time was a jockey for helping him with his professional ambitions.

“I got my inspiration to become a jockey from my uncle Garfield Gordon, who was a jockey, while I was attending Hydel High School. After school, I went to the stables of Gary Subratie where, Mr Subratie taught me a lot.

“I gained a lot of experience from him (Gary Subratie) as he was himself a jockey. I also benefited in my development from trainers Patrick Lynch and Tensang Chung who were also jockeys.

“I was always observing but things take time as even though I love being around horses, I was a bit short in my efforts, lazy, failing to get up and come to the track in the mornings. “However, I changed my attitude towards my passion and began to come to the racetrack and take things with greater interest to make the changes and take myself more seriously and today I am a winner. For me this is only the tip of the iceberg. Where this win came from there are more in store, it just leaves to me now to dig in and settled down. I have learnt a number of things here. I am not going to burn any bridges but to stay focused and deal with the hardships, so that when the time comes around you can be around to benefit,” Allen offered.

Allen is looking further afield and has the ambition of becoming a welder in his spare time.

“When I was at school, I always like to do welding and I was an integral part of welding fabrication development at school. I will, therefore like to become a welding and fabrication specialist after racing,” he pointed out.