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By Ray Hickson

Grateful doesn’t begin to describe how apprentice Rebecca Bronett Prag feels about the journey Knights Armour has taken her on.

Rebecca Bronett Prag (Pic: Bradley Photos).

It’s a journey that started in May last year when trainer Ross Lavis was looking for a claimer to offset a hefty weight in a Benchmark 58 at Moruya and the Swedish born jockey says it’s hard to believe it’s continuing in Saturday’s TAB Handicap (2400m) at Randwick.

Since the 29-year-old started riding the gelding no other jockey has been successful as they’ve climbed the ladder with wins at Goulburn, Canberra, Hawkesbury, Warwick Farm and last start at Rosehill.

“You need to be a little bit lucky,’’ Bronett Prag said.

“The reason I got the ride in the beginning is he was carrying a lot of weight and I was a 3kg claimer in the bush so I was lucky to get on him.

“But moving into the provincial and city he didn’t really need the claim, though it always helps, and they stuck with me and I’m grateful for that.

“Everyone dreams to have a horse like this to get an opportunity. It’s been a bit overwhelming but a big thrill, it’s been an exciting journey.”

Knights Armour, $11 with TAB on Thursday, showed he’s adept in all conditions with his Warwick Farm win coming on a heavy 10 while at Rosehill three weeks ago it was a soft 5 and he ran out the 2400m.

The seven-year-old stays in metro Benchmark 78 grade with a small weight rise but Bronett Prag says he’s such a reliable horse these days she’s not concerned about it.

“You never have to worry what barrier you draw or how the track is going to play, he’s so versatile and will go through anything,’’ she said.

“As long as he has a clear run through he doesn’t know how to run a bad race.

“His last win was fantastic, the only thing that would worry me is the three weeks between runs.

“But they always have him in super condition and with a heavy track and a soft draw it is a good benefit.”

Bronett Prag is into her third year as an apprentice in Australia but she’s known nothing else other than horses.

She did ride at an amateur level in Sweden but elected to see the world and learn more about racing around the globe before landing in Australia ten years ago where she worked for trainers like James Cummings, pre-Godolphin, and John Thompson.

Her apprenticeship started with Matthew Smith but she says since she’s moved to the country, to link up with Keith Dryden and Libby Snowden, she’s gained in confidence and is now just eight wins from outriding her country claim.

“I haven’t done anything other than racehorses all my life,’’ she said.

“It started with pony racing and when I was 15 or 16 I started to go to the racecourse and was riding trackwork, I went to the picnics and it went on from there.

“I always wanted to ride races but I was young and wanted to get more experience, travel a bit and do racing in different countries.”

Prior to continuing her association with Knights Armour, Bronett Prag rides Hold in the TAB Highway (1000m) for John Nisbet who she says has been a great support in the past 12 months in Canberra.

Knights Armour wins at Rosehill on July 19

The mare was a first-up winner at Nowra in mid-June and has a hefty weight drop after the claim.

“Hold will benefit from a soft or heavy track, she’s a backmarker who has a good turn of foot,’’ she said.

“I rode her once and we ran second beaten not far, I definitely think she can run a race with a bit of luck.”

All the fields, form and replays for Saturday’s Randwick meeting