The 20-year-old knew little about the sport of racing when she worked as a hairdresser for about four years.
She grew up with horses and riding at a pony club on the Northern Rivers of New South Wales before entering the world of hairstyling as a day job.
There she eventually crossed paths with racing champion Frost, who suggested his stable was always keen to hire new employees who had a passion for horses.
Just a few years from then, Lyons will make her first ride as a reinswoman in the Sunshine State this week.
It was an incredible rise for the passionate rider who still can’t believe how far she has come in hairdressing in such a short time.
“I never thought I would be doing races, but it’s really good – I love it,” Lyons said.
“I’m glad I got into it.”
Lyons has been taken under the wing of Inter Dominion icon Frost and his training partner Gail Geeson in Pottsville in northern New South Wales.
The debuting driver even calls Frost ‘Grandpa’, such is their bond.
Lyons also worked with the gallopers at Murwillumbah for a few years, but recently she has focused her energies more on the standard horses.
She heads to Redcliffe on Wednesday evening for her first official ride in the sport before returning to the same track on Thursday for her first race day booking for her old bosses Frost and Geeson.
Geeson, 54, says Lyons idolizes the revered Frost.
“She’s great,” the coach said of Lyons.
“She is a very, very hard worker. She is very willing to learn everything and she really listens. She does exactly what you say and nothing is too difficult for her.”
“She is a brilliant worker and is so keen to learn about the sport and the industry. She is a real asset to our stable.”
Like Lyon, legendary AFL goalkeeper Tony Lockett has been prominent in Frost and Geeson’s stables in recent years, helping to work their horses.
Geeson says Lockett is proud to see the youngster make his debut in the sport after following her journey closely.
Because Lyons grew up on horseback and had horses of his own to ride, trainer Geeson believes the transition to riding a harness bike was smooth.
“It didn’t take her long, as soon as we got her on the gig, she started working almost immediately,” she said.
“She has the hands for it. She sits well and horses also go for her. It’s really good.”
“She was capable from the start.”
In addition to her harness racing activities, Lyons still works as a hairdresser and did so on the Monday prior to her debut rides.
She also worked for gallop conditioners David McColm and Peter Sinclair at Murwillumbah.
Taking the path to becoming a jockey wasn’t something Lyons considered, as she is currently at the forefront of harness racing at full speed.
“I really enjoyed doing both, and it was cool to see two different types of races,” she said.
“I saw the different training involved and the horses are completely different breeds so they behave very differently.
“I really enjoy racing.”
She will make her first ride in a race for Tweed Heads West trainer John Boserio at Redcliffe on Wednesday when she gets on the bike behind Barrett.
The 76-year-old Boserio is a good friend of Frost and Geeson, who helped Lyons pick up the assignment.
She will be back at the races on Thursday to work with Zac Daniels, a horse she has had a long association with.
Lyons completed all of Zac Daniels’ teaching work as a young horse and was the first horse she sat behind in a trial as she worked towards her license approval.
“It’s really exciting,” she said.
“I like to see how far they get. He’s a nice horse.
“He’s doing well.”
Through Jordaan Gerrans for Racing Queensland
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