Albury driver Amber Jarrott was clearly thrilled as she brought up her first win on Tuesday night.

Jarrott arrived just in time to secure a memorable first with Alta Mario .

After being camped behind the leader throughout the race, Alta Maria ($21.20) edged out Long Toe Tiger ($2.60 fav) with one final effort to win the Conquest Pools Pace (2165m).

Half a head was the margin in the end, but that didn’t to Jarrott.

Even the 22-year-old wasn’t sure she had done enough to win as the pair crossed the line.

“I didn’t know, I was trying to hear the race caller but it was really hard to hear over the back,” Jarrott said.

“I knew it was close.

“Either way I was happy, but I was even more happy that I finally won a race.”

Jarrott had her first drive just over a year ago, but doesn’t have a background in harness racing.

In fact her first hope was trying to be a jockey.

However, after a serious race fall, she walked away from the gallopers.

Riding trackwork almost seven years ago, the now 22-year-old broke her shoulder and suffered a compound fracture to her femur which required a couple of blood transfusions.

Despite not wanting to continue her jockey aspirations Jarrott said she never lost her love of horses.

Instead she found another avenue to explore it and gave driving a chance.

“I lost my nerve and couldn’t ride anymore,” she said. 

“I’ve always had an interest in harness racing but I don’t think it’s a job.

“Some people get away with it full-time but I wouldn’t be able to.

“I’ve always had horses as a hobby so this is another bit of the hobby.”

Off the track Jarrott works as an enbalmer and only picked up the sport two years ago.

Jarrott had her first drive at Wagga in October 2015, but has only just come back after a six-month break.

“I just needed to restart myself and get things back on track,” she said.

“Get the thrill back into it again as I was travelling a bit and just needed to get that love back for it.”

And it couldn’t have worked out any better.

She returned to the track at Albury on Saturday night before steering Alta Mario to victory three days later.

The win also broke a long losing sequence for the Scott Gregory-trained Alta Mario.

The eight-year-old hadn’t won since October 2014, but was only having his third start following a 21-month spell.

“It is good for both of us to get the win, but he went really well,” Jarrott said.