Stratford’s Leilani Anderson finished a thrilling second in the National Pony Racing series grand final at the Gold Coast Turf Club last Saturday.
Anderson was aboard her pony, Cosmo, in the small pony section, competed against finalists from all over Australia, her field containing riders from the Northern Suburbs, Kyneton, West Tamar, Denman, Nerang, Naracoorte, Glenelg and Brighton Southern Midlands
Pony Clubs.
Cosmo flew the start but was mowed down by Napeleon (Stacey Edwards) from Glenelg, Anderson hanging on late for second from
the fast finishing Poppy (Jack Cumming)
from Kyneton.
The large pony race was won by Benalla’s Lillianna Meyervale aboard Honey, defeating Sharmay Bleakley on Ghost from Woodford in Queensland, with Montana Griffith and Gidget from Gulgong in New South Wales third.
The National Pony Racing Series is a joint initiative between Pony Club Australia and Thoroughbred Industry Careers, aimed at developing riding skills and building awareness of career pathways in the
equine industry.
Since launching in November, the series has travelled across New South Wales, South Australia, Western Australia, Tasmania, Victoria and Queensland, giving young Pony Club riders the unforgettable experience of racing on professional tracks.
Twelve-year-old Anderson and the 12.3 hands Cosmo, compete for the Stratford Pony Club, where Anderson has been riding since she
was five.
With a name like Leilani, she was bred to impress on the track, sharing the moniker with a champion thoroughbred racemare that was bred in New Zealand and raced in Australia.
She won six Group One races and a total of 12 black type equivalent races, during her short racing career.
At the time of her retirement she held the Australasian earnings record for a mare, she was trained by Bart Cummings and part
owned by prominent Australian politician Andrew Peacock.
