The 2022 Haras des Trotteurs Australasian Young Drivers Championships provide a highlight of Inter Dominion grand final week in Victoria.

Nine youngsters from Australia and New Zealand will do battle in nine races at four tracks over five days - starting at Melton on Tuesday night.

Here’s a close-up look at each of the drivers who also be in action at Ballarat on Wednesday night, Maryborough on Thursday, Bendigo on Friday night and Melton again on Saturday night.

>> READ MORE: Australasia's young guns ready for week-long battle

Tayla French

Victoria

Career wins: 201

This season wins: 72

Biggest win: 2021 G1 Vicbred Super Series 3yo Trotting final 

Role models: Kima Frenning and Kerryn Manning

Favourite horse: Parisian Artiste

Race you aspire to win: Inter Dominion

Favourite ID moment: Don’t have one yet, but enjoying being apart of it this year.

 

Sarah O’Reilly

New Zealand

Career wins: 188

This season wins: 64

Biggest win: 2019 Australasian Young Drivers Championship 

Role model: Sam Ottley

Favourite horse: Sugar Me

Race you aspire to win: NZ Cup

Favourite ID moment: When I was younger, watching a horse my Dad trained and grandparents owned run in the Inter Dominion final in Auckland.

 

Sam Thornley

New Zealand 

Career wins: 47

This season wins: 30

Biggest win: Geraldine Cup with Corravally Star

Role model: Blair Orange

Favourite horse: Royal Del

Race you aspire to win: NZ Cup

Favourite ID moment: Being a part of ID grand final night this year.

 

Jordan Chibnall

Tasmania

Career wins: 76

This season wins: 36

Biggest win: Heat of the Rising Stars on Just Ralph

Role model: Chris Alford

Favourite horse: Just Ralph or Lifeinthebalance

Race you aspire to win: Kilmore Pacing Cup

Favourite ID moment: Being there to watch Tiger Tara win it in 2018.

 

Brendan Barnes

Queensland

Career wins: 736

This season wins: 140

Biggest win: G1 Golden Girl on Jeradas Delight

Role model: Luke McCarthy

Favourite horse: Pacific Drums

Race you aspire to win: Miracle Mile  

Favourite ID moment: Blacks A Fake’s fourth ID grand final victory. 

 

 

Crystal Hackett

New Zealand 

Career wins: 23

This season wins: 14

Biggest win: Cambridge Gold Cup with Son Of Patrick

Role model: Tony Herlihy and Chris Alford

Favourite horse: Invictus and Son Of Patrick

Race you aspire to win: NZ Dominion or Rowe Cup

Favourite ID moment: Temporale winning two heats in Auckland; Massive Metro running third in Auckland grand final, trained by my parents.

 

Samantha Pascoe

South Australia

Career wins: 165

This season wins: 56

Biggest win: 2022 G3 Southern Cross Series final for 2yo fillies on Laylas Princess

Role model: My parents. I got my work ethic from them along with my love of horses and harness racing

Favourite horse: Joonior Brown

Race you aspire to win: The ID one day, but more realistically the SA Pacing Cup.

Favourite ID moment: The only time I have attended an ID final was the last time it was in SA in 2007. The atmosphere was incredible. 

 

Cam Hart

New South Wales

Career wins: 768

This season wins: 197

Biggest win: 2022 G1 Blacks A Fake with Majestic Cruiser

Role model: Trevor White

Favourite horse: Majestic Cruiser  

Race you aspire to win: Miracle Mile

Favourite ID moment: Jason Grimson winning the 2021 grand final with Boncel Benjamin.

 

Emily Suvaljko

Western Australia

Career wins: 479

This season wins: 119

Biggest win: 2022 G1 Western Mares Classic with Savvy Bromac 

Role model: Gary Hall Jnr

Favourite horse: Savvy Bromac

Race you aspire to win: WA Pacing Cup

Favourite ID moment: Lennytheshark being stabled at David Thompson’s for the Perth ID series.