Rain couldn't dampen the occasion for apprentice Ben Allen after riding his first city winner at Sandown.

The 16-year-old has been race riding less than a year and his metropolitan success came aboard Lyuba for premier Victorian trainer Darren Weir in Wednesday's Ladrokes Odds Boost Handicap (1300m).

Lyuba held off a challenge from Deja Blue, ridden by fellow apprentice Ben Thompson who had earlier escaped injury in a fall.

While his victory was Allen's 63rd, he acknowledged this one had added significance.

"It feels much more special, just because it's in town," Allen said.

"It's good to be able to get my first city winner and she's a nice horse to ride."

Allen's victory was soured when he was fined $400 for a breach of the whip rules in the race.

He only recently made his city riding debut and said he wanted to make sure he was ready for metropolitan racing before stepping out in the Melbourne arena.

"And I even still thought I probably came to town a bit early," he said.

Allen said he always wanted to be a jockey.

"My brother (Matthew Allen) is a jockey and my dad (John Allen) trains, so I kind of just grew up into it," he said.

Three-year-old filly Lyuba scored by a head over Deja Blue with 4-1/4 lengths to Micondesa.

It was the middle leg of a winning treble for Weir who also won with Montana and Tintaglia.