Courtney Van Der Werf has made a perfect start the next phase of her career with victory aboard Dowdstown Charlie at Randwick on Saturday.
The 19-year-old apprentice officially begins a three-month stint with David Payne on Monday but got the partnership rolling with a fast-closing win on the newly gelded two-year-old.
Dowdstown Charlie ($14) collared the favourite Everage ($3.30) near the line to win by a long head with another two lengths to Koroibete ($61).
It was the first win from seven starts for Dowdstown Charlie who showed his ability on debut on a similar heavy track when he finished a close third to subsequent stakes winners Everage and Twilight Royale in February.
"This was his first run as a gelding," Payne said.
"He was doing things wrong and had his mind on anything but racing.
"And Courtney rode him very well."
A New Zealander who decided early on her career lay in Australia, Van Der Werf has been with Greg Bennett at Scone for 12 months.
"Once I finished my country claim it was always the intention to come to Sydney and Greg arranged for me to come to David Payne for 10 days to try it out and I start there on Monday," she said.
"It's good to get a winner for him today.
"I came over from New Zealand because I wanted a career in Australia and this helps."
Everage's trainer Craig Carmody had no complaints with the filly's second under Rachael Murray.
"She went well and Rachel rode her well," he said.
Payne said Dowdstown Charlie would now go for a spell and be brought back for the spring.
"I kept him in work after he was gelded to keep an eye on him," he said.
"He is a horse who wants a mile and we'll do that next preparation."