Guiding Light Shines In Richmond Romp

STALWART trainer Peter Rodgers has placed his exciting juvenile Guiding Light in some esteemed company following her dazzling 22.48 Richmond success last Friday night.

"I think she's pretty special, I've broken in some great dogs over the years, including Group 1 winners like Chica Destacada and Knocka Norris, but this bitch is the quickest I've educated," declared Rodgers, fresh off four winners at Richmond this past week.

A rising two year old daughter of El Grand Senor and Faded Lilly, Guiding Light couldn't have been more impressive for Rodgers at Richmond last Friday, posting best of night figures to remain unbeaten, following her slick 18.73 maiden victory over the 330m at the course in December.

"I've been lucky enough to have some handy dogs for her owner/breeder George (Tyrpenou) over the years but she's the best by far – she's something else," declared Rodgers.

"When this bitch was 12 months old George was heading overseas and he asked me to take her and break her in and keep her to train.

"From memory he'd put the rest of the litter through the Richmond Riches Auction but decided to keep this bitch as he really liked her. I've broken in plenty of fast dogs over the years but she's at the top of the list. As a baby she was breaking 15 over the short course at Richmond, you're generally happy when they run around the 15 ½ mark. She broke 15 right from the start.

"I've got no doubt she'll run a strong 500, I gave her a post-to-post at Richmond this week and she broke 15 seconds running home. There's a 1-2 wins race at Wentworth Park in a fortnight so that will be the aim for now, it looks a nice way for her to go."

Rarely without a handy one in the kennels, Rodgers continues to enjoy good success with his boutique team, in particular at his home track Richmond, boasting 31 winners from his past 99 runners with the outstanding winning strike-rate of 31%.

And whilst short-coursers like recent winners Simply Cam and Simply Shadow continue to fly the flag admirably for the veteran trainer, it's the exceptional promise being displayed by Guiding Light that has him most excited.

"She's run time in everything I've thrown at her – she's a big girl, she weighs in at around 30.5 kilos so I've taken her along slowly and really made a point of not rushing her," added Rodgers.

"A race like the New Sensation might be worth looking at over the Easter Egg Carnival for her. It's good to get a nice one again for George, he puts in a lot of hard work and did a magnificent job rearing her, she's an outstanding type."

 

Guiding Light, better known at home as Tiffany, at four months of age