Brendan Barnes has potentially the best pairing of engagements on the opening night of the Haras des Trotteurs Australasian Young Drivers Championships at Melton.
The Queenslander has leading chances in each of the two heats.
He will have the reins on the consistent Calypso Mistress and Luella.
The Don Lock-trained Calypso won back-to-back races at Melton and Ballarat in October-November and since then has had two seconds in three starts.
Luella has had four starts for Brent Lilley since arriving from New Zealand, with a last-start third suggesting she can be in the finish.
New Zealand’s Sam Thornley has the drive on the top fancy Outlaw Man in the first race of the series – a fellow Kiwi from the Andy Gath stable having his first Australian start.
Reigning champion Sarah O’Reilly from NZ has her best chance with her second drive of the night – last-start winner Digyourheelsin.
The first of AYDC races is the third on the eight-event card and the second is race six.
>> READ MORE: Australasia’s young guns ready for week-long battle
DRIVER LINE-UP
Sarah O’Reilly (NZ North Island)
Sam Thornley (NZ South Island)
Crystal Hackett (NZ North Island)
Tayla French (Victoria)
Emily Suvaljko (Western Australia)
Brendan Barnes (Queensland)
Jordan Chibnall (Tasmania)
Cam Hart (New South Wales)
Samantha Pascoe (South Australia)
