Lleyton Green on the rise after Group 1 success

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It’s fair to say that young harness racing driver Lleyton Green experienced his greatest thrill on Saturday evening when he piloted Gladiatrix (Elite Stride) to a famous Group 1 harness racing success winning the New South Wales Trotters Oaks.

But there’s more to the twenty year old horseman than meets the eye.

Green was born in Queensland and with his parents moved to Mulgoa near Penrith as a teenager.

We had acreage in Queensland at Extension Bay and my older brother Hayden and parents raced and bred standardbreds.

I couldn’t think of anything else to do, I just lived and breathed harness racing.

It’s funny how I started here in New South Wales. The McDowells were looking for another worker and they asked Hayden if he was interested. Hayden had already given up driving and so knocked it back. But he happened  to mention his younger brother so the next day I visited the McDowells and I remember I started straight after that.

There are a lot more younger drivers these days and the pressure is on to perform from a relatively early age.

Green stated:

There are a lot more opportunities for junior drivers with claims. I had opportunities when I was younger but I outdrive my claims on 1^st July 2025. But it was a great help to my development.

Green has been fortunate to have a number of key people who have helped him in his harness racing career.

When we were living in Queensland there was a hobby trainer Josh Moore and in the really early days he gave me plenty of advice. And Hayden my brother he taught me a lot and was ready to tell you when you were right or wrong.

Under the McDowells I have also learned so much. Dean really put me under his wing and gave me lots of advice. He’s been a really good mentor. He understands you make mistakes and doesn’t blast you for it. He’s been a massive part of my career.

I’m so fortunate to be driving most of their horses in races.

Green has now driven 285 winners including that very special Group 1.

Definitely my greatest thrill was winning that Trotters Oaks. As a younger guy you always aim to win a Group 1 event. But for Dean for as well as he really wanted to win a Derby or Oaks so that makes Gladiatrix’s win even more special.

Green is a great fan of the trotters even though the majority of races are for pacers.

There’s no better feeling than driving a good trotter. It gives you a great feeling.

As for Gladiatrix Green noted her temperament.

She’s not easy to handle and can be very headstrong as she goes by her own rules. But once you get her in the cart she’s beautiful to drive. She was a bit of a handful after she was broken in but as I said once she’s on the track she’s fine. I patted her after the win and she headbutted me.

We’re looking now to prepare for the Foundation and Breeders Challenge Finals. Then we’d need to make a decision as to whether she goes to Victoria later in the year for their Derby and Oaks.

We’re also interested in the slot race in New Zealand later in the year as we have a very high opinion of her.

Last year’s New South Wales Oaks winner and runner up Gatesys Gem and Tracy The Jet ran one two (in the other order) in the slot event so we fancy our chances if she was to go over for that.

Green also discussed Gladiatrix’s elder half brother Maximus Meridius.

Maximus Meridius early on was very good, he still holds the record of being the fastest two year old in Australasia. However he developed bruising bones in the knees. That’s why he was galloping in his races. So he had a long spell and didn’t race as a four year old. We still think that he can come good again but it’s taking time.

Green reflects on his indigenous background.

I’m a proud indigenous man, and I really enjoy the Indigenous series they put on every year at Menangle. I look forward to it. The first year I won in 2023 I was ecstatic. It was Michael Formosa’s horse Heavenly Holly.

Despite having won his first Group 1 Green is relatively modest about his achievements and it’s a credit to him as he continues to make his mark in the competitive Sydney environment. He’s sure to continue his rise in the ranks and no one will begrudge any future success that comes his way.

By Tony Milanese for Harnesslink

This content was first released to The Insider subscribers.
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