The whirlwind that is James Herbertson’s season will see him join the Inter Dominion party at Bathurst on Wednesday night.

It comes just days after Herbertson’s exciting and rare opportunity to drive in last weekend’s Prix des Recontres Internationales du Trotteurs at the famed Vincennes track.

Herbertson, 24, who boasts 344 wins for the season and a lead of more than 80 on the national premiership, also had time in France to work alongside megastar horseman Jean-Michel Bazire.

Trainer Emma Stewart confirmed she snapped-up Herbertson drive Mach Dan in his crucial second round Inter Dominion heat at Bathurst.

The renowned speedstar is suited to the short 1730m heats and a $3.80 favourite despite drawing wide in gate seven.

Mach Dan opened the series with an eye-catching fourth to Captains Knock at Newcastle last Friday night when driven by Bailey McDonough and beaten just 4.8m.

A big showing at Bathurst will go a long way towards booking Mach Dan a spot in the final.

It would be Herbertson’s first drive in an Inter Dominion pacing final.

He drove Nephew In Sonoko to finish 11th in the 2022 Melbourne trotting final.

In another development, Jason Lee won’t be driving at Bathurst on Wednesday.

Instead, family friend and young gun NSW driver Will Rixon will again drive the Lee clan’s two major Inter Dominion contenders, Keayang Chucky and Aldebaran Vera.

“Yes, we’ve had another change of plans,” Lee said. “I was going, but not anymore. We will lean on Will again.”

Instead, Lee will focus on Keayang Zahara’s last NZ run in this campaign.

The freakish filly is a commanding favourite to stretch her unbeaten record to 14 races in Friday night’s $200,000 Group 1 NZ Trotting Derby at Addington.

“We’re certainly not taking this one lightly. It is shaping up as her biggest test yet,” Lee said.

Back to Bathurst and Rixon finished third on Keayang Chucky and fourth on Aldebaran Vera in their opening night heats.

They both have great draws – Keayang Chucky in gate three and Aldebaran Vera (one) – in separate heats at Bathurst.

Lee said both should improve from night one.

“It was a big few days travelling and in hot weather going into Newcastle, so it was good to get through it with some decent points and knowing they have improvement to come,” Lee said.