First double continues apprentice jockey Holly Watson’s impressive season in the Great Southern

Apprentice Holly Watson continued her impressive season in the Great Southern after riding her first-ever winning double at Percy Spencer Racecourse last Thursday.

Watson has been a revelation in the Great Southern this season with six wins and it was her first double since joining the riding ranks in October last year.

She guided home the Roy Rogers-trained Angel Of Justice to victory in race one before piloting the Mark Westthorp-trained Little Punga to victory in race five.

Little Punga, an eight-year-old gelding, gave a strong kick in the straight under Watson to boot clear and win by 2.5 lengths in the Inswing Sports Bar Handicap (1500m) after leading throughout.

Angel Of Justice started the day off on a winning note for Watson after winning the TABtouch Better Your Bet Maiden (1600m).

The four-year-old mare settled in at fourth in the running before storming down the outside to complete a 1.3-length victory as the outsider of the field.

“It’s such a huge step in my career to ride my first double and hopefully I can keep riding many more,” Watson said.

“I am having an awesome season, it’s been super being able to make the connections I have made and to be able to provide for them.

“Little Punga was a super run and just kicked away from them all, no one put any pressure on me and I just had the race my way and that’s the way he likes it.”

Meanwhile trainer Steve Wolfe finished the day off with a winning double after Classic Rogue and Apollo took out the final two races on the program.

Classic Rogue stormed down the middle of the track for hoop Shaun McGruddy to win by 0.7 lengths over Feels Hot in the Albany Stockfeeds Handicap (1600m).

A beautiful rails run helped Apollo score by 0.7 lengths over the fast finishing Kendel’s Mee Dad in the last race on the program.

Apprentice Kristo Sardelic was suspended for 13 days after careless riding aboard Chasing Chaos in race five.