Robbie Downey notches first win at Flemington

It is long way between Dundalk and Melbourne and Robbie Downey has ridden winners at racecourses between Ireland, United Kingdom and in Victoria, and can now claim having ridden a winner at Flemington.

The 26-year-old won the RCH Staff Appreciation Plate aboard the Nigel Blackiston-trained Verifier ($5.50).

“He’s a beautiful rider,” Blackiston said.

“He’s really balanced and when he picks a horse up he can really help them to the line.”

Downey began his career riding on the all-weather track at Dundalk in Ireland in January 2013 and rode his first winner at the same venue a month later.

After the race, it was a case of an experienced head speaking and not letting the moment overwhelm the moment.

“Last start we had a decent barrier but it ended up being a coffin because they went ‘no gallop’,” he said.”

“Today they went a better gallop and we were able to get the right splits.”

Having ridden work for Blackiston at a wintry Ballarat, the rewards are coming with the effort put in.”You have to put on a few jackets going to Ballarat but it is good to have a good team of horses and I really appreciate him putting me for my first winner at Flemington.”

This 2000-metre event was a heat of the Mahogany Challenge for which the three-year-old by Tivaci will be aimed at the series final over 2500 metres on July 1 at Flemington.