mmg.com.au

Sammy Kilgour will never forget the night of December 4 for contrasting, but valid reasons.

The 20-year-old from Melton reined her first winner when the pacer she partly owns, The Cavalier, saluted for Avenel trainer David Aiken at Shepparton.

It was also an emotional win for Kilgour as it was the first anniversary of the death of her mother, Kaye, who was also a part-owner of the well-performed pacer.

Kaye lost her battle with liver cancer on this date last year.

‘‘Yes it was an emotional win. It was really nice to get my first win and to do it on Mum’s anniversary made it even that more special,’’ Kilgour said this week reflecting on the milestone victory.

It was The Cavalier’s 14th win and with 22 minor placings from his 73 starts has netted the son of Christian Cullen more than $233000 in prizemoney earnings.

Kilgour has had her licence to drive for only about six months.

She had driven the well-performed The Cavalier in his previous 10 outings which had produced one second placing, three thirds and two fourths, so the pacer had his hoof right on the till.

‘‘It was just nice to get that first win on Mum’s anniversary because we have had a lot of fun together along with the other owners of this horse,’’ she said.

‘‘He has been a very good horse to us.’’

Kilgour has had a good grounding in the industry as she launches into a driving career.

She formerly worked with leading trainer Adam Kelly and is now employed by other leading trainers in Craig Demmler and Jodi Quinlan.