WORKING during the school holiday might not be an appealing prospect for most students, but Andrew Donnelly's decision to do so ended up with him wearing a very big grin.

It led to him picking up the first winning drive of his career.

When Bathurst trainer-driver Peter Bullock was short handed during the recent school holidays, Donnelly was drafted in to help.

One of the horses he did track work with was three-year-old filly Beth Shannon, so when illness kept Bullock from jumping in the gig with her at the Bathurst Paceway on Wednesday night, Donnelly was given the job.

It was the 11th drive of the 16-year-old's young career and he certainly faced a challenge in the Tanner Plumbing Three Year Old Fillies Pace (2130 metres).

Beth Shannon started from the extreme outside of the second row and it had been over a month since she last won a race, saluting at Tamworth on June 7. She and Donnelly were rated an $8 chance.

With a lap to travel Donnelly still had work to do as he was sitting in eighth, $1.80 favourite Wandary Splash leading the way with Amy Day in the gig.

However, the frontrunner had not really forced the tempo with the first half covered in a pedestrian 68.1 seconds.

It meant Beth Shannon had plenty in reserve so when Donnelly called on her to sprint, she responded well.

She powered down the home straight to reel in Wandary Splash and went on to win by 1.1m, the final quarter covered in a much quicker 29.8.

Donnelly was delighted with the first win of his career, repaying Bullock's decision to hand him driving duties.

Some 30 minutes later Bullock was given another pleasant surprise when Beth Shannon's full brother Blueridge Shannon won as a $44.80 chance.

This time Ben Hagney was given the driving duties with the two-year-old McArdle x Elizabeth Shannon gelding.

The pair came from barrier three and showed good gate speed, taking up position behind early leader Grin For Miss ($4.50, Neil Day).

He then responded for Hagney in the run home to post the first win of his four-start career, which until that point had included a fourth on debut and pair of seventh placings.