Emotions run high as rookie hoop makes every post a winner Heady ride: Claire Nutman wins on Footy Fan. Claire Nutman took the chance to have a quick look at herself on the big screen at Rosehill as she booted home Footy Fan for her first city winner on Saturday. "It is the first time I have had that opportunity, they don't usually have those at the tracks I ride on," Nutman said. I did have a quick look in the straight. The 22-year-old apprentice has been riding for just 11 months for 33 winners, but had to get the go-ahead from connections and stewards. They weren't sure if I was ready or had been riding long enough. Fortunately they said 'yes' because I know the horse so well, I think that definitely helped," she said. Nutman had ridden Footy Fan at her past four starts, for three wins, and any doubts about her ability to handle the occasion were quickly gone when Footy Fan went straight to the front. She rated her perfectly to score 1¼ lengths from Fast And Sexy and Arm Lengths, which was a neck further back in third. "I never thought I'd get an opportunity like this and I'm so grateful," Nutman said. I'm so lucky that he [trainer Wade Slinkard] and the owners have let me stay on the horse. She's pretty easy to get on with. Slinkard was close to tears afterwards. "I've known her since she was a baby and it was a great pleasure to give Claire her first ride in the city, let alone her first win," he said. She's been helping us out at the track and we've responded by giving her some rides, so we're very happy. I think they all backed it at Hawkesbury. There was no pressure to take her off, it was just whether or not she'd be able to ride her. She's rode 33 winners but they [the stewards] got to approve her. Nutman felt in control as far out as the turn in the benchmark-75 1500-metre event when she let Footy Fan have a bit more rein. "I hadn't even asked her for anything at the 600m, she was just pulling me around the corner and I knew she had so much left," she said. Today, when I was driving here, I felt a little bit nervous but when I got out on the track it was just like any other race. Perhaps the proudest man on course was Nutman's father, legendary greyhound racecaller Paul Ambrosoli. "I can't tell you how excited I am," he said. I can't describe it. So very special.