(Rod Gallegos is a senior commentator with Sky Racing and Sky Sports Radio.)

Some years ago many argued that female jockeys wouldn't last; they merely represented a passing fad. These days, though, there is no doubt they are here to stay and making a considerable contribution to the racing industry.

It was back in 1979 that Linda Jones, a pretty New Zealander (pictured above), became the first woman in Australia to ride a winner against male jockeys when she rode Pay The Purple to success in the Labour Day Cup at Doomben.

And the same track in 1987 was the platform for another Kiwi, Diane Moseley, to make her entry into the record books as the first woman to win a major race in Australia on Double You Em in the Group One Doomben Cup.

These days a woman riding winners hardly creates a ripple. It has become an accepted fact of racing life.

Even this week a chirpy young lady, Rachael Murray, landed a treble at Tamworth, her second treble in 10 days after having kicked home three at Quirindi.

Murray, 22, is an interesting story because she was reared on an Inverell farm and graduated through pony clubs and the show ring. While at the Armidale University doing a rural science course, she was homesick for her ponies and began riding track work to satisfy her love of horses and to earn a few dollars.

Now indentured to trainer Greg Bennett at Scone she has ridden a total of 69 winners in the past 18 months. In the current season her tally has reached 27 and she still has a one-and-a-half kilogram claim on country tracks and a three kilogram claim at the provincials.

It may not be long before we see her in the metropolitan area because she is showing plenty of poise and polish in the country.

*****

CONTROVERSY enveloped the $1million Railway Stakes in Perth last weekend with the successful protest on behalf of the local Luckygray against a Kiwi, He's Remarkable, which was first past the post.

Disagreeing with stewards' protest decisions is akin to complaining about your wife to your mother-in-law: you don't get anywhere.

One of the great anomalies of racing, however, is the rule for upholding protests - the stewards have to be satisfied that the interference prevented a horse from winning or finishing ahead of the offender.

And, to me, on many occasions that represents a pretty accurate definition of an imponderable.

*****

HAVING espoused the virtues of women jockeys in today's column it would be inappropriate not to put my money where my mouth is.

Hence, at Sandown on Saturday, I think Lisa Cropp can get the cash in race seven on Shabangabang. A winner two starts back over 1100 metres at Kyneton, Shabangabang subsequently finished a close fifth at the Valley over 1200 metres last Saturday.

*****

AT Canterbury, the Underwood Cup is the feature and Legsman from the John O'Shea stable appeals to me.

He was the winner of the Winter Cup in June and should have benefitted from three recent runs since a spell.

His latest effort when fifth to Strike One over 1900 metres was encouraging and he does meet his former nemesis two kilograms better terms.