By Michael Guerin
Two horses who a few months ago were the best and worst in Jeremy Young’s team gave him a winning double at Alexandra Park on Friday night.
Because while nobody should be surprised Lady Of The Light won the night’s main pace it was only a short while ago Young doubted Gladys Greenland would even get to the races.
At only her second start the three-year-old filly led throughout to beat In Excess and My Way in 1:55.4, the last 800m in 55.4 seconds in what will surely not be her last win.
But it wasn’t always so easy for Gladys.
“The first workout she had she finished 20 lengths last,” laughs Young.
“She has just got better and better every time we take her off the place and she hasn’t finished yet.
“I think she will continue getting better and I’m thrilled because her owner Murray Matthews is a great guy.
“He bought her as a weanling and he is a sole owner, which are rare, and he just loves the trots and having a horse to race.
“And now he has a really promising one.”
More than promising is Lady Of The Light, who was registering career win number nine when she led and won the main pace from Jethro Bodine, the winner’s last 800m in 54.7 seconds giving those back in the field little chance.
Lady Of The Light is the undoubted star of Young’s team and she went close to giving him Group 1 glory in the Breeders Stakes at Addington this season when beaten a head by Callies Delight in the NZ Breeders Stakes.
“Those races will be her aim again, starting with the Queen Of Hearts here (Alex Park) next month,” says Young.
“Then she will go to Addington for the two big mares’ race there and while that means taking on some good mares like Aardie’s Express with her you don’t have to worry.
“She is so tough that if she gets a good draw you can go forward and roll those strong quarters and if they are good enough to come and beat it so be it.
“But we don’t have to change her racing style because that is how she goes best and it means she can run the things you need to be competitive in those big races and he it doesn’t hurt her.”
Young helped look after Swayzee when he stopped in in Auckland for two days this week before flying south and says the Aussie star looked great ahead of his New Zealand Cup bid. And he says there is more room at his stable.
“We usually have more horses in work but we only have 12 at the moment and we are very open not only to new horses but South Island horses looking for easier racing and more regular racing.”
