Racing runs deep in Ryan Bradley's blood, his uncle Rick Cartwright was a former accomplished Victorian jockey, auntie Leonie Proctor a prominent Victorian trainer, while his jockey cousin Matthew Cartwright t purposely opposes him on Tuesday.
Numerous members of the family are travelling especially from Victoria for Ryan's race debut.
Some are in the ownership of Ryan's only ride on the day, speedy Joe Cleary maiden Epaulette Creed, naturally an Epaulette protégé who has eight placings into a maiden from a wide barrier.
"Just rapt, they're especially coming from Victoria, I'm really close to Matty, spent two years own there - he rang Joe and said he wanted to be here for my first race ride and Joe put him on the stablemate," enthused the personable 18-year-old.
"How good is that, but it probably beats me, it works well enough to win, so it'll be fun," he said of Raider Eightyeight with Cartwright.
It started $1.60 when second on debut at home.
The pair contest the Greenway Turf Solutions Maiden 1000m, their only rides with Ryan claiming the maximum.
"I ride "Creed" most days, those eight placings, I'm not sure if he keeps waiting for his mates and lonely or he just keeps finding one better.
"But he can lead or possie and hope he gets the message, it's my first race ride if he can stick his neck out at the right time for me.
"But so happy, the family and Joe have been so supportive, I'm a Queanbeyan local, always wanted to be a jockey through the family.
"I played junior League for years, but the opposition just kept getting bigger and I stayed the same."
Joe with his Golden Slipper-winning father Frank Cleary is phenomenal at home track. And Joe typically has a plan for the occasion and not deterred whatsoever by the extreme outside.
"The kid is ready I'd rather him out there in space on a jump and roll than risk tightening in a big field. This gelding has the speed to cross and lead and when they can do that their day will come.
"Ryan's had all the required education with a stack of barrier trials, jump outs here and in Victoria, but just as importantly he has the desire and the ability."
Queanbeyan, although a Heavy 10 and taking rain, are confident of racing with clearing weather predicted over the weekend and Monday.
