Ruby Haylock was the toast of the Sapphire Coast on Melbourne Cup Day, riding four winners on their five-race non-TAB program.
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The 23-year-old went into the meeting as a four-kilo claimer, having only ridden one previous winner during her short career when guiding the Nat Jarvis-trained, No Emotion, to victory at Moruya back on August 15.
Haylock was soon enough a three-kilo claimer with five winners next to her name following her breakout day at the Sapphire Coast on Tuesday, November 2.
"Honestly, I don't even know how to explain how I'm feeling," Haylock laughed.
"I never thought that this would happen this early, especially being a four-kilo claimer."
The youngster, who is apprentice to Wade Mathie, believed she had a good book of rides, but she never envisioned having such a good day in the saddle.
"I'm shocked. I didn't expect four winners. I knew I had a couple of good chances but I didn't think I would get four winners out of five rides," Haylock said.
In a good start to the program, Haylock guided the Richard Butler-trained Readapt to a strong victory as the $1.90 favourite in the 912m Maiden Plate.
"I've been lucky enough to jump him out twice for Richard and he had the best form on paper and I was quietly confident he would go well but I didn't want to get ahead of myself," Haylock said.
"He went really good."
In the third race, Haylock won aboard the Greg Backhouse-prepared Miss Anarchy in the 1412m Maiden Plate, and the jockey admitted the win was somewhat of a surprise for connections.
"I didn't expect that one at all. It was her first time over that distance and she had only really run over the 1000m," Haylock said.
"Even Greg said, 'We will see how she goes', but it really suited her and she went well."
In the fourth race, the Bowral product jumped aboard a familiar mount when riding the Jamie Stewart-trained globalize, winning the 1612m Benchmark 50 Handicap easily.
"I have ridden Globy before, he was my second ever race ride, and I was again quietly confident that he should have been able to get the job done, which he did," Haylock said.
In the last race on the program, Haylock had her easiest assignment of the day on Colbey Hill's Endymion, which boulted in for a four-length victory in the 1212m Benchmark 50 Handicap.
"That was the one I thought would win. I thought if I don't win on this thing, there is something seriously wrong," Haylock laughed.
"He left them for dead."
Haylock thanked her connections for the opportunities, with the Moruya-based hoop helping local trainers Colbey Hill, Jamie Stewart and Greg Backhouse to victories on the day.
"I think it was more special for me because they were all local trainers, expect for Richard (Butler), who's at Nowra, but he has helped me a lot too," Haylock said.
"All those trainers have helped me by giving me trial rides and race rides and they have been in my corner since day one."
Haylock, a former cowgirl, fell in love with the industry when starting out her apprenticeship, and she is still loving life as an apprentice in Moruya.
"I'm still really enjoying it. I quite like my little area. It is pretty quiet at Moruya and I am just ticking along," Haylock said.