Junior driver battle heads to The Mot today

It’s not the last throw at the stumps but today’s harness racing meeting at Banks Peninsula looms as a vital one for the Junior Drivers’ Premiership.

On the grass at Motukarara all three of the premiership contenders will be in action with front runner Carter Dalgety going into the meeting with 65 wins, two ahead of Sam Thornley and Wilson House just one away on 62.

With two days of the season left, all three have winning chances today, with Thornley the busiest of the trio with 10 drives, highlighted by the likes of first starter Go Home Denise ($4.40) in Race 1, the Peter Smith/ Deaks Electrical Trot at 12.10pm and Bettor Be Sharp ($4.80) in Race 6, the Tim and John (Junior Drivers) Race at 2.42pm.

Thornley is vying to add the title to the Australasian Young Drivers’ Championship he won in New South Wales earlier this month.

He goes into today the second pick to win the premiership at $4, with Dalgety a hot favourite at $1.15 and House at $15.

Dalgety has eight drives today starting with Lasa for his parents Cran and Chrissie Dalgety in Race 2, the Crate and Barrel Mobile Pace (12.35pm).

Among his higher rated chances are Alwaysbetrevy ($7) in Race 4, the Famous Grouse Hotel 2YO Mobile Pace (1.33pm), Bryson Dechambeau ($12) in Race 7, the Canprint Mobile Pace (3.19pm) and Not Over ($9) in Race 10, the Michael Ward Memorial Pace (4.58pm).

House has five drives including Topaz ($4.80) in Race 6 and Fusion Reactor for his father Michael in Race 12, the Commodore Hotel Mobile Pace (5.51pm).

All three will go head to head in four races across the day – Race 4, the Famous Grouse Hotel 2YO Mobile Pace at 1.33m, Race 6, the Tim and John (Junior Drivers) race at 2.42pm, Race 9, the Paul Renwick Joinery Motukarara Christmas Cup (4.30pm) and the last of the day, Race 12, the Commodore Hotel Mobile Pace.

The Christmas Cup is the day’s feature with backmarker Vessem the $4 favourite ahead of Wild Willow and Next Level. It’s a capacity field and promises to be a cracking race over 2810 metres.

As well as lining up Wild Willow Warren Stapleton will also start another good performer in Lester, while Laurence Hanrahan has a handy duo engaged in Tanzania and Woodbine Rocks. Here’s Herbie for trainer-driver Colin DeFilippi and Kiss the Girls also look live chances in an open field.

All three juniors have outsiders in the Cup with Carter driving Buckskin ($26), Thornley and Katherine at $41,  and House teaming up with Milou ($41).

Tomorrow all three drivers head to Reefton to renew their battle for top honours in the premiership, with Carter also heading to Alexandra Park on New Year’s Eve. Among his drives there will be Invercargill Cup winner Republican Party in the $250,000 Trillion Trust Auckland Cup.

For those heading along to Motukarara today there will be a HRNZ information stand on site explaining the new Next Gen ownership initiative.

To see more about Next Gen click here

For complete race entries, click here.

by Dave Di Somma, for Harness News Desk