Canterbury harness racing junior driver Sam Thornley is holding onto a narrow lead going into the final heat of the Haras des Trotteurs Australasian Young Drivers Championship at Tabcorp Park Melton tomorrow night (Dec10).
Thornley had a commanding lead after night one of the Championship winning two of the heats, but the gap has continued to close after further days of competition.
The Kiwi contingent had another good day again today with both Crystal Hackett and Sarah OāReilly scoring in the two heats run at Bendigo.
Sarah OāReilly had a commanding win with hot favourite Love Gun (Love You) in the first race today winning by an ever increasing 23.6m.
Crystal Hackett won the second race by a narrow margin on Kyvalleyhoneybunny (Skyvalley) trained by former Kiwi trainer Brent Lilley.
For complete Bendigo race results, click here.
Crystal Hackett has her first win of the Haras des Trotteurs Australasian Young Drivers Championship and sixth for NZ in the series – getting home with the Brent Lilley-trained trotter Kyvalleyhoneybunny in Bendigo on Friday night. #AYDC22 pic.twitter.com/By1kz3kuXy
ā The Trots (@TheTrotsComAu) December 9, 2022
NZ strikes again and it is a fifth straight win in the Haras des Trotteurs Australasian Young Drivers Championship to the girls with reigning titleholder Sarah OāReilly scoring with trotter Love Gun for trainer Jess Tubbs at Bendigo on Friday night. #AYDC22 pic.twitter.com/cC1eSZgrnA
ā The Trots (@TheTrotsComAu) December 9, 2022
Sam Thornley (NZ) 61
Tayla French (Vic) 56
Emily Suvaljko (WA) 55
Sarah OāReilly (NZ) 52
Sam Pascoe (SA) 46
Crystal Hackett (NZ) 45
Brendan Barnes (Qld) 43
Jordan Chibnall (Tasmania) 38
Cam Hart (NSW) 35
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The championships concludes with the final heat at Melton tomorrow night at 8.45pm (NZ time). The AYDC final is part of a massive night’s racing at Melton that includes the Inter Dominion Pacing and Trotting Grand Finals.
For complete Melton race entries, click here.