Ukrainian trainer Tetyana Ferdetska is aiming for just her third ever winner with Country’s Light at Flemington on Saturday in the Mahogany Challenge Final.
Tetyana Ferdetska may not be a household name for even the most passionate racing fans, but she’s hoping progressive three-year-old Country’s Light can deliver her third winner since she started training in 2018.
Ferdetska only has seven horses in her Cranbourne stable, Ruzaton the only winner with a record of 38-2-0-0, but she’s known all along Country’s Light was talented after running the fastest last 200m on debut behind Sharp Response.
“You have a look at his first run (at Sandown), since he ran that race, I knew I had a good horse,” Furdetska said,
Furdetska has been patient with the son of Dissident which led to the gelding running second behind Alverdun at 100-1 in a heat of Saturday’s G.H. Mumm Mahogany Challenge Final (2500m), something that didn’t surprise Furdetska.
“He’s doing well. Yes, I did (expect the run), I know that this year he’s shown already what he can do, and I know next year he’s going to definitely be a lot better horse,” Furdetska said.
Focusing on preparing a horse for Flemington hasn’t been easy in recent times for Furdetska with the ongoing war in her home country of Ukraine, although luckily her parents and sister managed to make it safely to Australia shortly after the war started.
“It’s very tough. Yesterday from Ukraine a doctor asked me to check for equipment which is here and people from America will buy it for him, so I went to check.”
“Everyone, every Ukrainian, who stays in a different country, they try to help how they can. Everyone tries because this is a disaster what’s happening in Ukraine at this moment,” Furdetska said.
Country’s Light fittingly runs in silks displaying Ukraine’s national coat of arms, the Tryzub, and if able to win, would provide a much-needed boost to Furdetska who predicts the best is yet to come with the lightly raced horse.
“It would be great (if he could win), I have very big hopes for him next year. I will give him enough time to develop and next year he’s going to be absolutely great.”
