The Herons Creek girl from south of Port Macquarie has eclipsed more than 80 of her apprentice colleagues across the state to win the coveted title.

Samantha has notched up 11 wins at the provincial tracks of Newcastle, Kembla Grange and Hawkesbury and 70 wins at other country tracks.

She’s had nine winners at Muswellbrook and three at Scone.

Her first win was February 22, 2011 on Twilight Courage and the most recent was on the highly-fancied St Luke at Tamworth on Monday this week.

On April 7, 2014 Samantha Clenton secured a rare treble at Armidale.

The 21-year-old, a 2nd year apprentice, lives in Muswellbrook with her partner and trainer, Tim McIntosh.

“Mum said I could ride before I could walk and I was never frightened of horses,” she said.

After Sam and her sister, Mandy, started their horse careers in Pony Club, Sam eventually came under the watchful eye of Port Macquarie trainer, Tas Morton.

“Both those girls were great show riders and Sam knew the difference between a horse and a machine.

“Sam wasn’t afraid to muck in, she loved those animals and her competence comes from asking a horse what to do, not telling it what to do,” said Tas Morton, “and that’s so rare.”

Samantha says other influential trainers in her young, but already illustrious career, have included Tracey Bartley and Marc Quinn.

Now, she says her partner Tim McIntosh is guiding her after she took a long break to sort out her weight, the bane of almost every jockey’s life.

“He’s the reason I stay racing and keep racing and he’s taught me a lot since I moved to Muswellbrook.

“The main thing he’s reminded me is that you never stop learning no matter what stage you’re at in your career,” she said.