RISING STAR TO JOIN CIARON MAHER IN SYDNEY

TALENTED Newcastle apprentice Shannen Llewellyn is set to join the Sydney stable of champion trainer and Melbourne Cup winner Ciaron Maher.

This season’s Newcastle Jockey Club Rising Star award winner is currently indentured to Nathan Doyle, who also has won the Max Lees Medal for the trainer with the best strike rate at Broadmeadow’s course proper (11 wins from 47 starters).

It’s been a breakout season for the 25-year-old jockey, who has ridden 61 winners, including seven in town, taking her career tally to 150.

Llewellyn, who began race riding only two and a half years ago (at Dubbo on February 18, 2024), clinched her first metropolitan winner on Doyle’s Duvana at Warwick Farm on Australia Day this year.

“It’s a terrific opportunity, and I am really looking forward to the move,” an excited Llewellyn said today.

“I start there on Monday, August 17.

“I knew Ciaron’s NSW racing manager Sam Fitzgerald (a former steward and then General Manager at Dubbo Turf Club) when I was at Dubbo, and he contacted me to say there was interest from Ciaron in transferring to him on loan.

“That was when Ciaron was to train at Leilani Lodge at Randwick, and now he has taken over Crown Lodge at Warwick Farm.

“Initially it will be for three months, and we’ll see how things work out as to whether I’m there for longer than that.

“With the big spring races in Sydney on our doorstep, the plan is to concentrate on riding out my provincial allowance (currently claiming 2kg).

“Of course I’m hoping to continue getting midweek opportunities in town, where I can claim 3kg.”

Meanwhile, Doyle’s Hawkesbury Gold Cup winner Churchill’s Choice is back in work.

“The Big Dance (1600m) at Randwick in early November is her aim,” Doyle’s racing manager Daivd Dyson said today.

“Churchill’s Choice qualified for the race by winning the Group 3 Hawkesbury Cup (1600m) on May 2.

“She has been back at the stable for three weeks, and Hidden Motive and Mercy Me also are back.”

Kurrinda Bloodstock-raced Hidden Motive, who won the Group 2 Roman Consul Stakes (1200m) at Rosehill Gardens last October (defeating Beadman and Golden Slipper winner Marhoona), hasn’t raced since finishing sixth to Super Smink in the Group 3 Irwin Stakes (1100m) at Morphettville on April 11.

Lightly-raced Hellbent three-year-old Mercy Me (three wins from seven starts) was runner-up to Miss Freelove in the Listed Denise’s Joy Stakes (1100m) at the Scone carnival in May.

Doyle has another Kurrinda representative Funshow (Tim Clark) chasing a hat-trick in the Benchmark 72 Handicap (1500m) at Rosehill on Saturday.

His other Rosehill acceptors are last start winner Silvanito (Alysha Collett) in the Benchmark 78 Handicap (1400m), and third emergency Formal (apprentice Braith Nok) if he secures a start in the Benchmark 78 Handicap (1100m).

STORY JOHN CURTIS, JULY 30, 2026 - PICS BRADLEY PHOTOS