Early 21st birthday present for Hackett at AYDC

Crystal Hackett’s having a week she’ll never forget across the Tasman.

Today the talented harness racing junior turns 21, just a day after winning the second heat of the Australasian Young Drivers’ Championships (AYDC) in Sydney.

She’ll mark her birthday with two more drives at Bathurst tonight, at 8.37pm and 10.03pm.

Hackett’s competing in her third AYDC. Yesterday her win at Menangle came with Cabana. It was a Kiwi quinella, with Our Chiquitita and Sam Thornley second.

“We were a day early and to drive a winner on my birthday would be special,” Hackett said last night, “but I’m pretty excited to win a race at Menangle, I watch races at Menangle most weeks and it’s always been a track I’ve wanted to drive at and to win here is pretty cool.”

In the first heat Kerryn Tomlinson was the best placed of the Kiwis, finishing fifth with Fiftyshades Cresco.

At the end of day one Hackett was joint second in the AYDC on 17 points, with Thornley fifth on 14 and Kerryn Tomlinson eighth on nine points.

Standings (after two heats) : 

Jacob Duggan (Tasmania) 19
Ewa Justice (Victoria) 17
Crystal Hackett (New Zealand) 17
Will Rixon (New South Wales) 16
Sam Thornley (New Zealand) 14
Taleah McMullen (Queensland) 12
Josh Gallagher (New South Wales) 10
Kerryn Tomlinson (New Zealand) 9
Kyle Symington (Western Australia) 7
Corey Johnson (South Australia) 2

After tonight’s two heats at Bathurst the series heads to Penrith (Thursday) and then Newcastle (Friday) before finishing on Inter Dominion Finals night back at Menangle on Saturday.

For complete race entries, click here.

We will have regular updates on hrnz.co.nz and across our social media channels.

From Harness Racing New Zealand