Jockey Michael Poy (Image: Racing Photos)
The jockeys' room on one of Melbourne's big spring race days is a melting pot of stardom.
The old guard of Oliver, Williams and Zahra mix with the youth of Kah, Lane and McNeil.
And in amongst them, by no means out of place, is Michael Poy.
At a time when apprentices are all but banished to the provincials, the youngster is holding his own against the might and experience of Australia's best.
The 21-year-old has ridden at every Group 1 meeting this season and will continue that streak at The Valley on Friday night and Saturday.
Some might say it's been an easier road for Poy, the son champion jockey Michael Clarke, than others.
After all, his first-ever ride was a 'sit and steer' on Nature Strip, a horse that would go on to be celebrated as the country's best, and he's since received the backing of some of Melbourne's powerhouse stables who have helped him smash through the 200-win tally in fewer than three years.
But those people have never met Poy, an old head on young shoulders.
"I think I'm riding as good as I have been," Poy said.
"But you've got to keep improving - I'm up against the likes of Damien Oliver, Craig Williams, Mark Zahra and Ben Melham and I'm running out of my claim.
"When I lose my claim I'll be on level terms with riders like that so I have to keep getting better.
"My manager Reece Murphy does a fantastic job chasing rides.
"Not many apprentices have been riding in town of late and, while I've only had one or two rides, it's a big thing to be there riding at the meeting in these non-claiming races."
It's not uncommon for jockeys to spend hours on the road to and from trackwork and the races each day, especially during the spring.
An average week for Poy can see him traversing the state, riding trackwork at Ballarat, Caulfield, Flemington and Pakenham before heading off to the races.
But if that's the price for success, Poy his happy to pay it to ensure he keeps getting the opportunities for regular supporters likes Phillip Stokes, Team Hawkes and Lindsay Park.
On Sunday, the apprentice landed his first Stakes triumph aboard the Stokes-trained All Too Huiying in the Listed Seymour Cup and he's hoping it can be the catalyst for more success this spring.
"It's not just me, all jockeys clock up a lot of kilometres and work hard for everything we get," he said.
"The harder you work, the luckier you get.
"It's taken a while considering I've almost outridden my claim in town, but it was good to get a Stakes win, especially aboard one of Phillip Stokes' horses, he's been a fantastic support of mine of late.
"I won the Apache Cat Classic for them, I won the Mildura Cup for them, I had a double on Friday night for them, so to get a Stakes winner for them is a big thing for me.
"You'd like to think I might be able to get a nice (feature race) opportunity this spring.
"I've been putting in the hard work and I can ride light so if a light ride comes up I'll be taking it with both hands."
Poy will ride Affair To Remember and Kyzamba at The Valley on Friday night before continuing his fruitful association Ancestry in the 955-metre handicap on Saturday.