AYDC representation battle heating up

The battle to represent New Zealand at July’s Australasian Young Drivers Championship (AYDC) in Brisbane is hotting up.

Three of the four places in the team are cut and dried, with Wilson House, Carter Dalgety and Sam Thornley all seemingly assured of making the flight. They will go as the leading South Island driver, the 2024 Junior Drivers premiership winner and the defending AYDC harness racing champion from 2024 respectively.

Where it gets interesting is the fourth and final place, that of leading North Island driver.

At it stands right now Crystal Hackett and Harrison Orange are locked together, both on 35 wins in 2025. They are tied in second equal place in the Junior Drivers premiership behind Wilson House on 54.

Coincidentally the pair are literally stable-mates as well. They are both employed at the top northern stable of Barry Purdon and Scott Phelan.

Hackett has competed at two AYDCs before while Orange is yet to wear the silver fern but in just two seasons of race driving he has made a huge impression.

Whoever has the more wins on June 1 will get the nod. If there’s a tie it will be decided on UDR (strike-rate) from January 1, 2025 to June 1, 2025. From now (May 22) until that cut-off date there are just eight meetings.

The AYDC will be held over nine heats, at Albion Park and Redcliffe, between Tuesday, July 15 and Friday, July 18. They will conclude a day before the Inter Dominion Pacers and Trotters Finals at Albion Park on Saturday. July 19.

From Harness Racing New Zealand