FLEMINGTON teenager Katelyn Mallyon looms as a key rider over the summer period for many of the leading Melbourne stables after continuing her amazing rise through the ranks over the past 12 months, reports The Age (www.theage.com.au) Its report adds: Mallyon, the granddaughter of former riding great Mick Mallyon, is just 17 but has already ridden 70 winners since gaining her licence last season, and notched a winning treble at Wangaratta on Monday. With a long summer of off-season racing in Mel

FLEMINGTON teenager Katelyn Mallyon looms as a key rider over the summer period for many of the leading Melbourne stables after continuing her amazing rise through the ranks over the past 12 months, reports The Age (www.theage.com.au)

Its report adds: Mallyon, the granddaughter of former riding great Mick Mallyon, is just 17 but has already ridden 70 winners since gaining her licence last season, and notched a winning treble at Wangaratta on Monday.

With a long summer of off-season racing in Melbourne ahead, her three-kilogram metropolitan claim will be attractive for many of the leading stables and Mallyon knows that once she starts winning frequently in Melbourne, further opportunities will arise, and quickly.

Just one of her 70 winners has been achieved on a Melbourne racetrack and she is determined to improve that ratio, starting on Saturday at Moonee Valley, where she has five rides.

''It's been pretty frustrating with just that one winner, as I've gone so close a few times, but that's the way it goes and I can only hope it changes soon,'' Mallyon said yesterday. ''I'm happy with the way I'm riding and I've got some nice rides on Saturday.''

Mallyon does not just have the noteworthy deeds of her grandfather to spur her on, as she is engaged in a battle with older brother Andrew in the Victorian jockeys' premiership. The Mallyons share ninth place on the table with 27 wins each since August 1. It is a family rivalry that demands the best of both riders. ''I was speaking about it with Andrew yesterday when he rode a winner at Warrnambool and he said he'd drawn level with me now, so it's getting pretty competitive. But he's got six years on me, so I think I'm doing pretty well to be level.''