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Amateur jockey Amie Waugh relishing 'last chance' as she turns professional
![Amie Waugh: will ride as a professional at Haydock on Friday](/_next/image/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fs3-eu-west-1.amazonaws.com%2Fprod-media-racingpost%2Fprod%2Fimages%2F169_1008%2F16e74dec6cac-97540.jpg&w=3840&q=75)
Succcessful amateur Amie Waugh takes a "very exciting" new step with her first ride as a professional on Sound Of Iona at Haydock on Friday.
The diminutive jockey – she is less than five feet tall – has ridden winners over hurdles and fences, but is taking advantage of her light weight to commit herself to a paid career as a freelance on the Flat.
"It's a very exciting time," said Waugh, 31, who has won 24 races under rules, including nine on the Flat, plus several more in point-to-points.
She will ride as a 5lb-claiming professional and said: "It's something I have had a few opportunities to do in the past but I've been into pointing and jump racing too much.
![Amie Waugh has ridden winners over hurdles and fences as well as on the Flat](/_next/image/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fs3-eu-west-1.amazonaws.com%2Fprod-media-racingpost%2Fprod%2Fimages%2F169_1008%2F165d34c5c4f8-97541.jpg&w=3840&q=75)
"Being short and so light I can do 7st 9lb with no problem so it's a sensible thing to do, and it's probably the last chance."
Waugh, who rode her first Flat winner on 80-1 shot Tourtiere in the Ladies Derby at Ripon in 2015, has also acted as assistant to her father Simon, who trains in Northumberland.
"I've had a good season on the Flat and I'll still be around to help out my father when I can," she said.
The first mount of her new career is trained by Jim Goldie, who provided Waugh with her biggest winner on Nicholas T in the Queen Mother's Cup at York in June.
Sound Of Iona takes on nine rivals in a 5f handicap (2.55), and Waugh said: "She should have a decent chance, she ran well at Hamilton last time."
Haydock Friday card and betting
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