Training Your First Winner is Always Exciting!

Media Release - Thursday December 14

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.

Leah Zydenbos recorded her first training win at Hastings on Wednesday. Photo: Peter Rubery (Race Images Palmerston North)

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.

Advertisement

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

Advertisment
More Reading...
2024 Melbourne Cup Result - It's Knights Choice
The 2024 Melbourne Cup has been run and won with Knight’s Choice, a five-year-old gelding by Extreme Choice victorious.
Melbourne Cup Pedigree Analysis - Do It Yourself
Breednet has produced a great page with click through to five generation pedigrees for all the Melbourne Cup runners, so for amateur pedigree buffs looking to have a Cup flutter based pedigree here’s your chance  to DIY it!
All Too Hard's Arran Bay Brave in the Furphy Plate
Phillip Stokes admitted his preference was to run Arran Bay in the Listed John Letts Cup at Morphettville but was overruled by the owners, who made the correct decision in favouring the Listed Furphy Plate (1800m) at Flemington.
Coolmore Set Justify Fee for 2025
Coolmore have announced the US fee for Justify in 2025 with the undefeated Triple Crown winner priced at $US250,000 to head  their roster of 16 stallions at Ashford Stud in Kentucky.
Kiwi Bred Gringotts Wins $3million Big Dance
Talented New Zealand-bred gelding Gringotts(NZ) (Per Incanto) delivered a big payday for his connections with victory in Tuesday’s A$3 million Big Dance (1600m) at Randwick.
Magic Nick Strikes Again – Fastnet Rock x Galileo
The Fastnet Rock x Galileo nick has been on fire in Melbourne this spring producing Cox Plate winner Via Sistina (IRE) and leading Melbourne Cup contender Buckaroo (GB) and it struck again overnight in the UK with a brand new stakes-winner in Military Academy, who captured the Listed Floodlit Stakes (1m4f) at Kempton.
$6million Frankel Mare Tops Fasig -Tipton November Sale
The Fasig-Tipton November Sale, billed as the World’s Premier Breeding Stock Event, was held Monday at the company’s Newtown Paddocks in Lexington, Kentucky. Twenty-five offerings sold for $1,000,000 or more, led by a trio of Grade/Group 1 winners with international appeal.
Sires With Winners - Tuesday November 5
Here is the full list of 145 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Sires With Winners - Monday November 4
Here is the full list of 21 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
More Stakes Success for Air Assault
Group I placed last season in the SA Derby, talented gelding Air Assault kept the winning run going for Victoria Derby winning trainer Andrew Gluyas when taking out the Listed SAJC John Letts Cup (1800m) at Morphettville on Melbourne Cup Day.