Light Cavalry's dam Glass Slipper was a half-sister of the Derby winner Royal Palace and showed good form during a brief racing career, finishing second in the Musidora Stakes.
[2] Light Cavalry missed the Derby (won by Henbit) and reappeared in the Group Two King Edward VII Stakes at Royal Ascot in June when he started at odds of 9/2.
Cecil then prepared the colt for the St Leger, beginning with a run in the Gordon Stakes at Goodwood Racecourse in July, when Light Cavalry finished third behind the Irish Derby runner-up Prince Bee and Fingal's Cave.
Light Cavalry led from the start and went clear of the field in the straight but was overtaken in the final quarter mile and beaten two lengths by Prince Bee.
[5] The start of the race was delayed when Lancastrian threw of his jockey Freddy Head and broke loose, but the colt was sson reunited with his rider and was able to take part in the classic.
Water Mill emerged as his only serious challenger, but Light Cavalry stayed on very strongly in the final quarter mile and drew away in the closing stages to win by four lengths.
He ran very poorly,[7] finishing unplaced behind Pelerin, and returned from the race with a tendon injury and a swollen hock, leading Cecil to speculate that the colt might never run again.
A furlong from the finish Light Cavalry was challenged by Castle Keep and Centurius and appeared beaten but rallied under strong pressure and won by a neck.
Light Cavalry was then aimed at the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Ascot in July, but suffered a recurrence of his tendon injury[9] and appeared before the race with heavily bandaged legs.