Dalgety and House locked in thriller Junior Drivers Premiership

With just seven meetings left in 2025, the Junior Drivers Premiership is neck and neck.

Just one win separates Carter Dalgety, with 88 for the season, and closest rival Wilson House (87), with the TAB having Dalgety at $1.60 to win the premiership for a second time while House is at $2.

Both will be in action at Cambridge on Christmas Eve for their 12-race programme, starting at noon.

The match race between the pair has a very familiar ring to it.

Last year Dalgety was locked in a similarly tense battle with Sam Thornley.

Helped by a four win haul on Invercargill Cup day Dalgety clinched his first title with 67 wins, three ahead of Thornley, with House on 52.

This year both Dalgety and House have had career best years.

Included in Dalgety’s stellar last 12 months have been five Group 1s. It’s believed to be a record for a junior driver in this country.

And his tally could be six, with Republican Party heavily favoured to win the Auckland Cup on New Year’s Eve.

He has had 546 drives this year compared to House’s 686.

At Cambridge on Wednesday Dalgety will have three drives and House will have five. But throughout the day the pair will not square off in the same race.

House will drive five for his father Michael House. They are Silent Theory (R1), Shezabettorgirl (R3),Koko Kaboom (R8), Gotta Elect Bill (R9) and Million Dollar Chic (R12).

Dalgety has three outside drives – (R2) Joe Kennedy for Derek and Neita Balle, (R4) I’m True Enough for Tate Hopkins and (R7) Rushkinoff for Sheryl Wigg.

Dalgety is well acquainted with the latter however. The Sweet Lou five-year-old was trained by Dalgety’s parents Cran and Chrissie before his recent move north, and Carter drove him in all three of his wins so far.

If Carter wins the Premiership it will complete a notable double. He won the Junior Drivers Championship earlier in the year.

The seven meetings left in 2025 are :

December 24 – Cambridge
December 26 – Westport
December 27 – Gore
December 28 – Westport
December 29 – Motukarara
December 30 – Reefton
December 31 – Auckland

The Cambridge meeting could also see a new training record.

The Stonewall Stud brother-sister combo of Steve and Amanda Telfer have 168 wins in 2025. That ties the all-time 12-month record with Roy and Barry Purdon in 1993-94.

They have seven chances to break that record at Cambridge – (R1) S S Guppy, (R2) Andarta, (R3) Delightful Chic, (R7) Upstage, (R9) Iron Brigade and Akatea, and (R11) Amazing Captain.

To see the Cambridge fields click here

By Dave Di Somma, Harness News Desk