Offaly's Nikita lords it over the field with first winner

Pictured above: Shinrone native Nikita Kane celebrating her win on Lord Rapscallion in Bellewstown, Co. Meath last week. Photo: Patrick McCann/Racing Post.

Shinrone apprentice Nikita Kane claimed her first win as a jockey when guiding the Johnny Murtagh-trained Lord Rapscallion to victory at Bellewstown on Thursday evening of last week.

A graduate of the Racing Academy & Centre of Education (RACE) in Kildare, Nikita got the 9/2 chance home by a length and a half from the Colin Keane-ridden Sirjack Thomas.

Nikita's love of horses was fostered from a young age in Birr Equestrian Centre.

A former student of St Brendan's Community School in Birr, the young woman from south Offaly will now be hoping to build on last week's success at Bellewstown.

Jockey such as Nina Carberry and Josephine Gordon are among those who have inspired Nikita, who hails from a family steeped in equestrian activities.

Nikita completed a stint of work experience in the yard of Irish Classic-winning trainer Adrian Keatley.