She won her debut at Rangiora Raceway on Sunday, May 26, in a track-record time and was equally impressive winning her next race, also at Rangiora, on Sunday, July 7.
Sky Vale's performance earned her the Rangiora Harness Racing Club's Horse of the Year award and gave Glenn a 100 percent starters-to-winners ratio for the season.
Glenn, who works for Rangiora trainer Mitchell Kerr in the mornings, bred the Auckland Reactor mare and shares ownership of her with his partner Jodi Kennedy. He also did all the early work with the mare, qualifying her at Rangiora and then giving her a long spell before her first race start.
Sky Vale trialled well before her race debut and was the favourite to win on her home track. Glenn was hopeful of a strong run from her but she went way beyond that, clearing out at the finish to win by eight lengths. She then topped that off with another win in her second career start a month later. ''It was amazing. I thought she would be competitive but to win the way she did on our home track was very special and it was fantastic to get Horse of the Year,'' Glenn said.
Glenn also bred Sky Vale's dam' Countess Vale, whose dam Suzy Vale was bred by his parents Ian and Cara Gillard.
Ian was a trainer for many years in Rangiora, preparing a host of winners, including Blue Vale, Pacific Vale, Lilly Vale, Nifty Nekey, Canasta Star and Canasta King from Suzy Vale and her dam Star Vale.
Sky Vale, now aged 4, was given another spell after her second win ''to allow her to strengthen and grow'', and will return to work next month.
