AUSTRALIA Day will always hold a special place in Shannen Llewellyn’s heart!

The Newcastle apprentice at only her third day of metropolitan riding broke through in town at Warwick Farm today – and returned there on a special mission to achieve it.

It was at the same track where the 24-year-old, indentured to Newcastle trainer Nathan Doyle, made her city debut on Aroha Stone at a midweek fixture on July 2 and was narrowly beaten.

She had easily won a race on the same mare at Gosford a fortnight earlier just after making the switch from the country to join Doyle’s stable in a determined effort to progress her career.

Llewellyn had that July 2 race firmly on her mind when she returned to the Farm today to guide Aroha Stone’s stablemate Duvana ($4) to the easiest of victories (three and a half lengths) in the Benchmark 72 Handicap (1400m).

Trying her hardest to make a successful debut in town nearly seven months ago unfortunately led to a RacingNSW stewards’ suspension for causing interference in the straight, and she was hellbent on learning from her mistake.

“I probably panicked a bit last July to get clear running on Aroha Stone, and made sure I stayed one and a half horses off the inside rail today so that I didn’t risk getting pocketed.

“Duvana was always travelling well, and I was confident he was going to be hard to beat.

“Once I got the split between the two leaders Ken’Ker and Missile Seeker on straightening, he took the gap and quickly put the race away.

“That was a terrific thrill, and so rewarding to win my first city race on one of Nathan’s horses as he is such a good supporter.”

Duvana cleared out over the last 200m to defeat Kembla Grange trainer Theresa Bateup’s pair Master Riley ($31) and Direct Fire ($11).

The young jockey is now unbeaten from two rides (the first was on resumption on the Beaumont track on December 13) on the four-year-old, who has raced only three times since joining Doyle’s team from champion Sydney trainer Chris Waller.

And, not surprisingly, she feels the Australian Bloodstock-raced son of Dundeel can definitely get better as his distances are increased.

Llewellyn was riding in town for the only the third time, having also been placed on the Doyle-trained Malabar (third) at a Canterbury night meeting on January 16.

Duvana was her 109^th career winner (and 20^th so far this season) in just under two years of riding.