APPRENTICE jockey Eleanor Webster-Hawes’ career has continued to blossom with a busy schedule working for Bathurst trainer Andy Ryan’s stable.

Webster-Hawes has only a matter of months left on her apprenticeship, but has never enjoyed her racing career more than she has over the last six months working with the Ryan family.

Just to make things even better, Webster-Hawes also secured the biggest victory of her career on Sunday with a win in the Gilgandra Cup on Devilgate Road for Tamworth trainer Craig Martin.

“They’re all lovely people to work for and be around,” Webster-Hawes said of the Bathurst-based stable.

“There’s still plenty of improvement left for me, as there always is. I feel I’m riding a lot better though since I’ve come here.”

Hailing from the Blue Mountains, Webster-Hawes moved to Dubbo prior to starting her apprenticeship. Once it got underway her three years working there produced few racing opportunities.

After working with Bathurst’s Dean Mirfin, where she found much more time in the saddle, she came over to the Ryan stable to see out her apprenticeship.

“It was going pretty ordinary and that’s why I came to Bathurst. It’s hard and very competitive. As soon as I moved here though I was given plenty of opportunities,” she said.

She enjoyed a good December where she claimed three winners, one of which was with Ryan’s Just Pay Up in a memorable run from the rear of the field at Dubbo.

Gilgandra’s feature race on Sunday couldn’t have gone any smoother for Webster-Hawes, who managed to lead from start to finish.

“It went well. The horse that I thought would go forward and I could get a nice cart off it missed the kick and I ended up having to lean on it [Devilgate Road],” she said.

“It was lovely. He ended up running along comfortably in front and it panned out really well.”

Ryan couldn’t be happier to have Webster-Hawes on hand as she is producing some of her best rides to date.

“El came to us, having known her for a couple of years. We could always see how much ability she had, so it was pleasing for us to see that she’s starting to fulfil those things that we could see in her,” he said.