Young delighted with Lady of the Light ahead of Northern Breeders' Stakes

By Michael Guerin

Lady Of The Light has decided her own tactics for tonight’s $40,000 Caduceus Club Northern Breeders Stakes at Alexandra Park.

Because trainer Jeremy Young says her form and work dictate she tries to lead and stay in front of the other favourites Aardie’s Express and Manhattan in the mare’s Group 3 over 2200m.

The race may be the lead-up to next Friday’s Queen Of Hearts but Pukekohe trainer Young says that doesn’t mean Lady Of The Light should duck for cover and try and conserve her energy for the big fight next week.

“The way she has been racing and working we have to take our chances if we can,” says Young.

“She is so well and you can see that from the way she has been winning and she has been even better at home.

“I couldn’t be happier with her and if she is quick enough to stay in front of those horses outside her at the start then we have to give her her chance to beat them because if she hands up to a horse like Aardie’s Express we will get outsprinted.”

Lady Of The Light may have been beating rivals a step or two below open class lately but Young in confident she can pace 2:37 for 2200m tonight in the hands of driver Maurice McKendry, who jumps back on after junior driver Monika Ranger has rated the big mare perfectly lately.

If she does lead and roll along she gives herself at least some chance against Aardie’s Express, who comes into the race off a last-start fifth in the NZ Free-For-All.

Quite incredibly when you think Alexandra Park is considered the home track for the headquarters of Team Telfer, tonight’s race will be Aardie’s Express’s first start in Auckland.

She lays claim to being the best mare in the country (Millwood Nike is still a filly) and she may simply be too good tonight but Young declaring his tactics might make punters think twice about taking really short odds about Aardie’s Express, who will also have a new driver tonight in Zachary Butcher.

On a night without huge fields Alexandra Park should provide some good betting races as there are few standout favourites.