Talented young reinsman Jordan Leedham continued his recent white-hot form with a winning double at Melton on Saturday night.
The 22-year-old Leedham has visited the winner’s stall on 16 occasions since May 9, which includes a double at Geelong the previous night.
Leedham’s successful pairing with the Andy Gath-trained Yambukian carried on when the seven-year-old outstayed his rivals in the opening event.
Yambukian ($14) settled down midfield before Leedham made a move to join the leader Bulletproof Boy with a lap to travel, and the son of Bettors Delight surged clear around the home turn while staving off Young Bluey by a metre and a half in a mile rate of 1:54.3.
“There was plenty of speed early off the gate and when I saw Bulletproof Boy pushing through to lead, I thought if I could get up outside then he might be vulnerable late after a quick lead time,” Leedham said.
Despite the win, Yambukian won’t be joining his younger half-brother Catch A Wave in Brisbane for next month’s Inter Dominion series.
“No, I reckon he’ll be staying down here and contesting these races in which he’ll be very competitive,” Leedham said.
Leedham rounded off his night by partnering the Geoff Webster-prepared three-year-old Seathestars ($1.33 fav) to an all-the-way win in the Beraldo Coffee Pace.
Named after the champion Irish racehorse Sea The Stars, the son of Captaintreacherous is part-owned by leading horse trainer and avid harness racing fan John Hawkes.
Leedham believes Seathestars’ early speed will prove beneficial in the future.
“He’s got that good high-end speed and he’s got that gate speed as well which is a big asset and will help him in the long run,” he said.
“He has competed in some of those nice three-year-old feature races, and I think he’ll come back better and stronger next season.”
Leedham, who is currently in fifth place on the metropolitan drivers’ premiership table, said he is deriving the benefits of driving high-calibre horses.
“Getting opportunities on horses like these ones makes my job a whole lot easier,” he said.
“When you are consistently driving winners, you are full of confidence and you feel like you make the right moves more than the wrong ones.”
Other winners were My Uncle Stan in he Hyland Racing Colours Pace, Little Louie in the Lifestyle Communities Deanside Pace, Sir Jimmy in the Nutrien Equine Pace, and Aldebaran Zeus in the Aldebaran Park Trotters Free for All.
