Playing hooky from school to drive maiden winner!

SHE was absent from the classroom, but present in the winners’ circle!

Taking time away from her Year 12 studies, Taylah Osmond was “overjoyed” by her decision to play hooky yesterday after she registered her maiden Club Menangle success.

Osmond’s moment in the spotlight came behind the James Rattray-trained Kabibi, which broke a five-month drought from the number one stall.

Kabibi’s previous victory was in the Riverina on February 18 when driven by Rattray.

“I’m very excited…overjoyed,” Osmond said. “I’ve had winners at country tracks but to get one at Menangle is great.

“Hopefully it is the first of many!”

Leading throughout from barrier two, Kabibi completed a metre-and-a-half win from Radiant Amber, with Stellina four-and-a-half metres away third.

“I was confident before the race as she has been very consistent and has been knocking on the door the last few weeks,” Osmond said.

“She got close last week so I felt she would be hard to beat.”

Along with working towards graduating Secondary College, Osmond has been assisting around the Rattray stables while the horseman enjoys a spell.

“James is on holidays for a couple of weeks so I have been helping at his stable,” Osmond said.

“I haven’t got long left until I finish school and after that I am hoping to do work with horses in some way.”