Cowboys N Bandits NZ delivering Young her 100th training success. Photo Credit: Pacepix
Female success Jocelyn Young has broken through for her 100th training win on Tuesday night at Gloucester Park, with handy type Cowboys N Bandits NZ taking out race six.
Coming from a long line of harness racing enthusiasts and participants, Young was always keen to follow in her families footsteps, and although her mum tried to sway her in a different direction, the pull from racing was too strong, and she ultimately made her return before she even left.
“After school, I went to TAGE, mum tried to sway us girls away from horses due to the endless amount of work and cost for little return, but as I said, it runs in our blood,
“Horses it was.”
Growing up surrounded by her parents and grandparents training horses, racing was always in her blood, and as Young described it, its like an addiction.
“I guess you could say that’s been a driving force and being able to train from my grandparents property made starting out a lot easier than it is for some.”
Making her debut to the training ranks in the 2017/18 season, the 2022 season proved her most successful with the then 29-year-old preparing 44 winners from just 210 starters in the year, including taking out the $25,000 listed 2YO Colts and Geldings Westsired feature with Ronald Scott, albeit an unusual win, with the youngster galloping on the line.
“So far, my training highlight has been training Skylord,
“He was bred on the farm by my grandparents, broken in by Uncle Shane (Young), second prep by dad and now I train him, and Maddy drives him, so he’s a real family horse,
“as well as being blessed with talent and good looks.”
Earlier this year, the Amber Hare landed Young her biggest training feature when she took out the $50,000 Lombardo Fillies and Mares Group 3.
At just 30-years-old, the future looks bright for Jocelyn Young, with a team of 15 in work between herself and her partner Cameron Ross, 10 of which are her own, there’s no signs of her slowing down.
“I haven’t had any setbacks in my training for myself, obviously, there is always going to be issues with horses and owners along the way, but that’s all part of the journey.”
Skylord returned to racing on Wednesday at Bunbury, quickly taking Jocelyn from 100 to 101 training wins, going to the line hard held to win with ease for the sisters’ duo.