Young gun harness driver Jordan Leedham seizing opportunities in James Herbertson’s absence
With Australia’s premier drive James Herbertson holidaying overseas, emerging young Victorian driver Jordan Leedham is making the most of some increased opportunities.
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Emerging young Victorian driver Jordan Leedham is seizing the moment.
With Australia’s premier driver, the Victorian-based James Herbertson, holidaying overseas, Leedham is making the most of some increased opportunities.
The 22-year-old snared two wins a second and a third at Melton last Saturday night, taking his tally of wins to 16 since returning from a suspension from driving on May 9.
“It’s the most exciting time in my career and what I’ve worked hard for,” Leedham said. “Not long ago, I’d have been driving at Mildura Friday, but now I’m at Melton and Geelong and with good books of drives, too.
“I’m having a fantastic run. There’s no doubt ‘Herbie’ (Herbertson) being away has opened a big opportunity for me.
“When he gets back, I’ll have to tell him how good he looked driving in the US and Sweden and he should head back there.”
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Leedham’s momentum started to build when he teamed with his “bosses” Andy and Kate Gath for the biggest win of his career aboard $81 outsider Kitzbuhel Delight in the $200,000 Nutrien 2YO final at Melton on April 11.
“It was a great time to get my name in lights when Herbie was about to go away. Unfortunately, I was suspended for the first two weeks after he went away, but I hit the ground running as soon as I got back,” he said.
Now Leedham, who boasts 309 career wins, has grabbed the attention of Australia’s most dominant stable, Emma Stewart and Clayton Tonkin again.
“It’s about two years since I’ve driven for them and, as you’d expect, you’ve got to earn your stripes to drive their horses,” he said.
Leedham will take the reins on Stewart’s exciting Meteor Moth, a winner of eight of his 11 starts, in race two at Melton on Saturday night.
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The recent splurge has Leedham on target to smash his personal best of 79 wins in a season at a strike of 13 per cent in 2022. He’s already driven 41 winners this year at 15 per cent.
Nine of those wins have been metropolitan level to put him equal fifth on the metropolitan driver’s premiership, just eight wins behind the leader, Kate Gath.
“It’s been especially rewarding to pick up drives for stables I haven’t driven for before or rarely do. I’ve really noticed it over the past two months,” Leedham said.
“For so long it was a buzz if I got one or two drives at Melton, now I’m getting books or four, five or six drives.”
Given Leedham has worked for “Team Gath” for about four years, it’s no surprise his two favourites come from the powerful Long Forest stable.
“Yambukian is number one now. He’s been great to me. And Watts Up Partytime would be a clear second,” he said.
Leedham boasts two wins and six placings on Yambukian, while he has partnered Watts Up Partyime to four wins.
“Andy and Kate have been great supporters and it’s always a thrill to drive a winner for them,” he said.
• Adam Hamilton is a paid contractor writing on harness racing for News Corp.
Originally published as Young gun harness driver Jordan Leedham seizing opportunities in James Herbertson’s absence
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