The lure of another amazing chance to drive internationally is spurring Sean O’Sullivan as he heads into his second Young Guns series at Melton on New Year’s Eve.
The series, now into its third year, brings together Victoria’s top 10 drivers aged under 25 to compete across a series of races at Melton in front of a huge crowd of 8000 or more, many drawn to the fireworks later in the night.
The two Young Guns winners so far – James Herbertson (last year) and Ryan Sanderson (2023) – have become stars. Herbertson, who is 25 and no longer eligible, is poised for his second Australian Drivers’ Premiership.
Sanderson, 22, is back for his third tilt at the series having enjoyed by far his best season in the sulky with 122 wins and his first at Group 1 level on Fox Dan in the Victoria Derby. He also finished second on the same pacer in the world’s richest harness race, the $2.1mil TAB Eureka.
O’Sullivan, son of star trainer Jim O’Sullivan, won two races in last year’s Young Guns series, which helped build his CV to earn an all expenses paid trip to France to spend time with world-renowned trainer Jean-Michel Bazire and drive in international race, the Prix Des Rencontres Internationales.
“I’d had a passport since 2018, but never used it until I got the shock call for the French trip. I had the most amazing time,” he said.
“I’ve done things this year I could never have dreamed of … driving at Vincennes (in Paris, an ironic track) and having time with one of the best trainers in the world. I had about two weeks over there, all up.”
Herbertson and Sanderson landed international trips for their victories in the Young Guns.
This year’s series carries the lure of an all expenses paid trip and a stint with former NSW couple Shane and Lauren Tritton, now hugely successful in upstate New York in the US.
“We’re thrilled to be able to support a great concept like this,” Shane Tritton said. “We love getting behind young people in the game.”
O’Sullivan added: “I’d love to win it, but what a great opportunity it is for whoever does. It’s awesome how strongly HRV is supporting young drivers like me.”
O’Sullivan, 24, had a breakthrough year in 2024 with 44 wins and 77 placings and has followed it up with 35 wins and 87 placings so far this year.
“Last year, I was the last one of the last to make the cut for the series and it was a real target of mine. I’ve just scraped in again this year,” he said.
O’Sullivan is one of the eight returning drivers from last year’s series. James Herbertson and Lochie Cook are 25 and no longer eligible, while Tasmyn Potter and Taylor Youl join the line-up.
Potter and O’Sullivan both drove the 100th wins of their career at the Echuca meeting on November 11.
Youl, 21, is back for her second tilt at the Young Guns after finishing second to Sanderson in 2023.
She is one of three females in the series. Potter and Ewa Justice are the others.
The first of eight races in the Young Guns series is at Melton at 6.43pm.
JLL-Photographe
