GREAT excitement at Leopardstown last Friday week when Jack Wildman rode his first winner in just his third race as Kuraka defied top-weight in the Breast Cancer Ireland Apprentice Handicap.

The 16-year-old from Salisbury has been riding out in Gordon Elliott’s yard for the past few summers and is with the trainer full-time since last July with a view to making a career on the flat.

The winner is jointly owned by Susan Frost and Caren Walsh and Caren explained: “Susan and I were at school together and we met up again recently. We have Kuraka together and he runs in her father and brother’s colours.

“Gordon thought we had a good chance at Leopardstown so Susan and friends got the last three seats on the plane and came over to witness victory with my godson Jack doing the steering! We were so excited that when we went up to have a glass of champagne afterwards, the girl serving us said she’d never heard such screaming from winning owners!”