01 June 2024 , 09:56
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The daughter of legendary jockey Pat Smullen fulfilled a lifelong dream by riding her first winner on Friday.
Hannah Smullen, a 21-year-old law student, renewed her amateur licence this month.
And on only her second ride back she steered the Gordon Elliott-trained Fillusin to beat the Willie Mullins runner Si Se Puede by half length. It was only her sixth ride ever.
Her victory came almost eight years to the day since her late father won the Derby at Epsom on the Dermot Weld-trained Harzand.
Pat Smullen passed away in 2020 aged 43 after being diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in 2018.
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The nine-time champion jockey had to stop riding and spent his final years raising millions to fund efforts to explore treatments for the deadly disease.
Hannah Smullen told RacingTV: “This means everything. I've been dreaming of doing this since I was a kid.
“The support mam has given me has just been unreal. And Gordon too. None of this would have been possible without them.
“I had a couple of rides around Tramore last year. It's a tricky track but I got a grasp of it and it's my favourite now! I just tried to hold my position on her and roll along without getting her going.
Jockey Pat Smullen after winning the 2016 Investec Derby on Harzand (PA)“She had a great turn of foot going down into the straight and she really battled. She just had another surge of energy coming up the hill.
“I ride out weekends and holidays for Gordon, and if I have a day off college I tip in there. I love riding out there for him and owe him a massive thanks."
Smullen’s mother Frances, who recently took out her trainer's licence again after a 16-year gap, said: "This was great. I couldn't believe it, I thought Jody had gone past her but Hannah got after her and gave Fillusin a great, strong ride."