Fly in driver James Herbertson will look to upstage the locals and win Wednesday night’s Trot Rods finale at Albion Park.
Last year NSW sensation Cam Hart was the sole “raider” and upstaged the locals to win the Trot Rods finale. The Victorian-based Herbertson is trying to repeat dose as Wednesday night’s “fly-in” driver.
“I jumped at the chance to come up and do something different like this,” he said.
“I’ve always watched some of the heats and the finale of the Trot Rods from home. I love the sport for trying something different like this.
“The short races, the coverage and camera angles. It all makes for an exciting night.
“I do know the track. My family came up to Queensland four of five years ago for a holiday, but Dad knows so many people here I ended up being offered drives and drove at three or four meetings. It wasn’t much of a holiday,” Herbertson laughed.
“I had a few drives at Redcliffe on that trip and won a trotting race for (trainer) Ray Cross.”
James Herbertson raises the whip in triumph as Supreme Dominator takes out the 2021 Cranbourne Pacing Cup. Pictures: Stuart McCormick
Herbertson is one of just five drivers who will compete through all 10 Trot Rods heats. Every race is over the short 947m – just over a lap of Redcliffe – without only five runners in each race.
His rivals are local stars Nathan Dawson, Pete McMullen, Angus Garrard and Dannielle Veivers.
Just as Herbertson is Victoria’s leading driver, Dawson is top of the pops in Queensland. With less than five months of the season gone, Dawson boasts 155 wins and is well on his way to topping 300 wins in a season for the first time in his career.
In the latest Trot Rods innovation, Veivers, who juggles her driving with motherhood, “won” her way into the select field of drivers through a social media voting process.
So, how does Herbertson rate his chances of doing what Hart did last year and upstaging the locals?
“Overall, I think I’ve landed a really good book of drives. I’m going there expecting a big showing,” he said.
“If I had to single one out, Bold Medley Jujon in race six looks my best hope. He’s won four of his eight and ran in a NSW Derby heat earlier this year.”
* Adam Hamilton is a paid contributor writing on harness racing for News Corp.