Scoring your first win in front of a bustling home crowd is what dreams are made of for most aspiring trainers, and for Leah Zydenbos that became a reality at Hastings on Wednesday.
The Christmas at The Races twilight meeting attracted plenty of racegoers to Hastings Racecourse and local hope Candle made sure they had something to cheer about when taking out the Bramwell Bate Lawyers Handicap (1200m) for Zydenbos and training partner Guy Lowry.
The daughter of Super Easy was slow away and settled at the rear of the field for apprentice jockey Lily Sutherland, who kept a cool head aboard the mare throughout. They entered the straight with all before them and Sutherland elected to stick to the fence where she was able to find a passage Candle snuck through to claim a 1-1/4 length victory.
It is a moment that will live long in the memory of Zydenbos, 22, who recently joined Lowry in partnership.
“It was really exciting to get that first win,” Zydenbos said.
“Lily did a terrific job. When she was a little bit slow away, she waited for the gap up the straight and it came, and the horse sprinted away. We were very happy.”
Zydenbos has had a lifelong involvement with horses, competing in showjumping and mounted games, and became a world champion in the latter before a chance encounter led her to pursue a career in racing.
“I grew up showjumping and riding mounted games. In mounted games in 2017 I won a World Championship in a New Zealand team,” she said.
“Through a mutual friend I ended up riding racehorses for the Pitman family down in Christchurch.”
After gaining a grounding in racing in Canterbury, Zydenbos moved north to Hastings three years ago to work for Guy Lowry at Game Lodge and has enjoyed competing as an amateur jockey in recent years.
“When I moved up to Hastings in 2020 I ended up working for Game Lodge and I went from there. I have ridden as an amateur and have really enjoyed that,” she said,
“I won the Duke Of Gloucester Cup (aboard Nedwin) in 2021 down at Riccarton, which was a real highlight.”
While still looking to compete in the amateur riding ranks, Zydenbos is enjoying her new challenge of training, but said she is still coming to grips with the opportunity she has been given at such a young age.
“I am lucky to have the opportunity the Lowrys have given me. It doesn’t quite feel real yet,” she said. – LOVERACING.NZ News Desk
