When Kath Bell-Pitomac was riding around the provincial circuit as a young apprentice jockey there was offers to race at the major metropolitan tracks in Sydney.
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But she never felt she was up to it.
Injuries played a part as she struggled to build a consistent run of results and improve her strike-rate and that meant her confidence was never where she wanted it to be.
But now things are different.
One of the most in-form jockeys around the western area at the moment, Bell-Pitomac will finally get her chance to ride at a metro track on Saturday when she teams up again with the Dar Lunn-trained Praline in the $75,000 TAB Highway Handicap at Royal Randwick.
"I'm heading to town finally," she laughed.
"It's something I had on the list to do. When I was younger I had offers but never thought I was ready but since coming back from my injury there was a few things I targeted and this was one of them."
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The injury she spoke of was a horror fall at Tamworth in March of 2019, one that resulted in the death of two horses and the hospitalisation of four jockeys.
Bell-Pitomac was one of the most seriously injured as she suffered an impact on her brain which left her battling poor eyesight and serious fatigue long after the fall.
But since being back in the saddle she's taken her game to a new level and while there's been numerous winners for trainers all over the bush, she's developed a particularly strong relationship with Praline.
The Wellington hoop has been in the saddle for each of the three-year-old mare's six career starts as well as two trials.
Praline has won three of her six starts, the most recent of those when first-up from a spell at Wellington last month.
"It's good to go but it's better when you're with a horse you know," Bell-Pitomac said of Saturday.
"It's a good combination of things. It's for a trainer I know and with a horse I love."
Praline drew gate 11 but that doesn't pose a huge amount of concern given she showed plenty of early speed during her first preparation.
That wasn't the case at Wellington last time out as she missed the start but both Lunn and Bell-Pitomac took plenty of heart from the way she powered home to hit the line well and claim victory.
"She's matured and a bit bigger and Dar always thought there was more improvement in her. She's a three-year-old so she's still a baby," the jockey said, adding she's got no doubt Praline will perform well on Saturday.
"Absolutely. She's got the ability and attitude and she's not got the experience of some of the others but this is a good chance to how she goes in this grade. If she wins then all the better."
Praline has never run over 1200m before but the win at Wellington hinted she's got the ability to get over more ground.
That ability could even result in Lunn pushing her towards next month's $150,000 Country Championships Qualifier at Coonamble, a race which is over 1400m.
"If Dar wants to go that way it could be an option," Bell-Pitomac said.
Praline has also never raced on a heavy track and while there is the threat of rain in Sydney on the weekend Bell-Pitomac was hopeful it wouldn't arrive until after the Highway race, which jumps at 1.35pm.
Bell-Pitomac added she was thankful Lunn and Praline's owners have the faith to stick with her in a city event.
Nick Guthrie
I started working at the Daily Liberal in 2013 and now hold the position of senior journalist. I cover all that's happening in sport in Dubbo and the wider western area and have a passion for doing so. If you've got a story that needs telling, reach out.
I started working at the Daily Liberal in 2013 and now hold the position of senior journalist. I cover all that's happening in sport in Dubbo and the wider western area and have a passion for doing so. If you've got a story that needs telling, reach out.
