DONEGAL jockey Martin Harley had his first rides in Australia last Friday at Swan Hill racecourse, 340km from Melbourne, where he rode the final two winners on the eight-race card, Blue Tycoon and French Success, both of whom are trained by David and Ben Hayes and Tom Dabernig.

On Saturday, the 30-year-old finished sixth of 15 in the Listed Cap d’Antibes Stakes at Flemington on the Tony Gollan-trained Niedorp and the Trentagh native was then in action on Monday at Bairnsdale in Victoria where, from just two rides, he partnered one winner and a second-placed horse.

His winner was the three-year-old Uncle Mo filly The Mobot who is trained by Ciaron Maher and David Eustace with whom he has been based since arriving in Australia in late August. Harley, who was champion apprentice in Britain in 2011, partnered four winners and many placed horses when riding in Hong Kong last winter.