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By Ray Hickson

It’d be tempting for Mollie Fitzgerald to be in a rush to work her way into the metropolitan apprentice ranks given the dashing start to her career.

Apprentice Mollie Fitzgerald

After all, things have happened quickly for her.

In just over 12 months the 22-year-old has outridden her country claim, is on the verge of a milestone and made the move into a city stable having joined forces with Annabel Neasham and Rob Archibald.

That association is only a few weeks old and it’s hit the ground running with a couple of winners in the past week, including Verbil at Wyong on Saturday. She’s out to continue the momentum at Newcastle on Wednesday but says it's very much one step at a time.

“I’ve only just started riding at provincial meetings with Annabel and Rob and the focus would be to go through the grades of my claim before stepping into metro,’’ Fitzgerald said.

“I’m a little bit over a year into my apprenticeship so I’m always looking to improve, and I think the provincials are a really good place to be.

“I was looking at the next step and I thought it was a very good opportunity (with Annabel and Rob). It’s a lovely stable environment and really cool and exciting to be a part of.

“Verbil was my 95th winner so the hundred isn’t far away which is pretty exciting. It’s pretty special to think I’ll reach 100 winners soon.”

Fitzgerald only had her first race ride in August last year, apprenticed to Tony Ball at Taree, and fell one short of 50 winners in her first season in the saddle so it was an impressive start to her apprenticeship.

She’ll partner with the Neasham/Archibald stable on Vaguer in the Davali Thoroughbreds Handicap (2300m) at Newcastle, and is looking forward to her second ride on Merchant Lady in the Rarity Wholesale Handicap (1250m).

The latter, $6.50 with TAB on Tuesday, was a beaten favourite first-up at Wyong but Fitzgerald said the run was full of merit as she wound up giving away more start than anticipated before working home late.

“She’s got very good first-up form so I can see why there was support for her,’’ she said.

“She settled further back than what we probably would have liked to but she hit the line well.

“I think the Newcastle track will be nice for her, it has a long straight for her to build momentum and I think she will be running well.

“She’s drawn quite nicely, and the claim will get her in nicely, and they probably won’t go as quickly over the distance so she might be able to be a bit closer.”

Of course Mollie’s father is former jockey Mal Fitzgerald so she’s well aware of the ups and down racing can bring.

Merchant Lady’s last start at Wyong on November 9

She said it’s great to have had such a positive start since she headed to Warwick Farm and says it’s the right move at the right time, especially with the stable producing two Group 1 winners this month.

“It’s really nice to have ridden a couple of winners for them lately, even before I joined the stable they were being really supportive in giving me rides and opportunities,’’ she said.

“You’ve got to ride the waves, racing never stops. Hopefully I can set things up for a nice long career.”

All the fields, form and replays for Wednesday’s Newcastle meeting