The Thornton apprentice jockey notched up his 100^th career winner on Friday, one race before Tuncurry's cup meeting was abandoned because of safety concerns with the track.

Nineteen-year-old Gibbons saluted on Coolmeans in the fourth, a 1400 metre maiden handicap that required a photo finish with Pulitzer Prize.

He rated the Adam Duggan-trained gelding "one of my best chances today" and didn't disappoint, arriving wide at the top of the home straight and finding the lead with around 200m remaining before narrowly holding off his nearest rival by 0.06 lengths.

Gibbons landed at the program one shy of the three-figure mark, making it to 99 courtesy of recent victories aboard Endorphins at Scone on Tuesday, Miss Scalini at Port Macquarie on Monday and Sammy at Newcastle last weekend.

The Newcastle Jockey Club's rising star award recipient for 2020-21 had his first ride in July last year and opened his account via Ocean Ruler in the Bonville Cup the following month.

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"It's pretty crazy to think I was some hope of getting 100 winners within the first 14 months of riding," Gibbons told the Newcastle Herald on Friday.

"It's not something I thought I'd do, but the longer it went the more I realised it was a possibility."

With Gibbons' father and fellow jockey Andrew sidelined at the moment, along with Aaron Bullock, he's "very grateful" to Newcastle trainer Kris Lees for increased opportunities.

"He [Lees] has been unreal, especially now dad and Aaron are on the sidelines," Gibbons said.

"Not many trainers would let their apprentice go and be their, quote unquote, number one rider for the time.

"He's got enough faith in me to throw most if his regular rides at me and I'm very grateful for that."

Having scored 86 winners during his maiden campaign, Gibbons now has 14 so far in 2021-2022 and has no interest in slowing down any time soon.

"Growing up I never had any doubt in my mind I'd be doing anything else," he said.

"The only time I had doubts was from other people trying to put doubt in my head - telling me I was too tall or I wouldn't make it or I wouldn't last long. I never let it get to me that much. Ignoring all of them and going onto do it, I've been a lot more successful than most people thought I would be."

Gibbons travels to Goulburn on Saturday, Coffs Harbour on Sunday, Tamworth on Monday and Taree on Tuesday.

Elsewhere on Saturday, Lees has Never Talk and Ventura Ocean in the same race at Kembla Grange while Frozen In Time, Wild Sheila, Tactical Advantage and Animate run at Doomben.

Commando Hunt leads a three-way charge for Scone trainer Cameron Crockett in the highway handicap at Kembla Grange on Saturday.

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