Hear about the girl and the racehorse?

MIke Moon: Would you back a horse ridden by a woman jockey? Would you let a female ride your horse in a race if it had a winning chance?

To such questions, my answer is: Sure, if the gal's good enough.

But is she?

That's when I drop the name Hayley Turner.

People outside of racing might not have heard this name, but they're bound to in the next few weeks - for Turner is the star turn in the international jockeys team for the upcoming two-Test challenge against South Africa's best riders in Joburg and Cape Town.

Turner is a sensation in British racing, winning over those notoriously hard-bitten, chauvinist Pommies in the hardest of racing schools. Local cavemen beware.

She's the first Brit female jockey to make it to the very top.

She was UK champion apprentice in 2004, became the first female to top 100 victories in a season in 2008, recovered from career-threatening injuries to boot home 60 winners in 2009, and was twice voted UK Racing Personality of the Year.

Of course, scores of female jockeys ride successfully around the world, but they all have a hard time overcoming the doubters.

In the UK, Sophie Doyle is in hot form and could follow Turner's path, while South Africa-born Lisa Jones might also get there.

In South Africa, the experience of young female jockeys mirrors what happens everywhere.

Several talented girls have come through the SA Jockey Academy, with owners and trainers seizing on their apprentice weight allowances to give them a chance on in-form runners. But when that weight concession comes to an end, the good rides evaporate in the face of experienced male competition - and enduring prejudice.

But determined women do carve out careers in the saddle. Nadine Rapson is a respected rider and Nicola Welch does admirably with limited opportunities.

South Africa's most successful female jockey was Lisa Prestwood, who served her apprenticeship in New Zealand as it simply wasn't available here in those days. She won a Group1 race on sprinter Al Nitak before motherhood brought retirement a few years ago.

The US first opened the gates to "jockettes" - as I remember them being called. In 1969 Barbara Jo Rubin notched a first win for womankind in a betting race.

Julie Krone became the first great US female jockey, winning the Belmont Stakes on Colonial Affair in 1993 and a Breeders Cup title on Halfbridled in 2003.

The US now abounds with women riders, with Inez Karlsson and Chantal Sutherland turning heads in particular.

A tragic lapse into sexism here: some of those US birds are right knockouts! And you can see why Hayley Turner is racing's pin-up!

Sorry girls.

Turffontein, tomorrow: PA - 4,10 x 2 x 1,14 x 2,7,11,14 x 5,6,15 x 10 x 1,4 (R96)