The Haras des Trotteurs Australasian Young Drivers Championship is going down to the wire.
New Zealander Sam Thornley continues to lead the series as he has from the first night, but he is under pressure going into the last event in the nine-race championship at Melton on Saturday night.
Thornley, who had a double with his first two drives in Australia at Melton on Tuesday, has a five-point lead.
Victorian representative Tayla French has moved into second position, overtaking Emily Suvaljko from West Australia.
French has an opportunity to set up a massive night herself.
As well as being in contention for the Trans Tasman championship, French also has the drive on Parisian Artiste in the Group 1 Inter Dominion Trotting Championship grand final.
French made a decisive move in the title race with a second place in the second of the two series races at the top of Friday night's all-trotting meeting at Bendigo.
The honours at Bendigo's Lord Raceway went to NZ duo Sarah O'Reilly and Crystal Hackett.
This gives each of the three-strong New Zealand contingent wins in four of the eight races to date, and six in a row for the girls.
O'Reilly, who won the championship last time it was contested pre-COVID in 2019, described her victory on the Jess Tubbs-trainer Love Gun as "cool".
She said she had enjoyed the opportunity on different tracks on her first visit to Australia - Melton, Ballarat, Maryborough and Bendigo.
“It's a great experience,” she said.
Hackett combined with trainer Brent Lilley to salute with Kyvalleyhoneybunny.“It's a massive thrill. One to remember,” she said.
“I was shaking a bit after the line, thinking I just won my first race (in the championship) and in Australia.
“It's very exciting.”
What made the achievement all the more satisfying was having her mother and some family friends trackside.
“It's great to have support from home.”
PROGRESSIVE POINTS (after eight races):
61 Sam Tornley (NZ) - 2 wins
56 Tayla French (Victoria) - 1 win
55 Emily Suvaljko (WA) - 2 wins
52 Sarah O'Reilly (NZ) - 1 win
46 Sam Pascoe (SA)
45 Crystal Hackett (NZ) - 1 win
43 Brendan Barnes (Queensland)
38 Jordan Chibnall (Tasmania) - 1 win
34 Cam Hart (NSW)
The week-long championship comes to an end in race two at Melton on Saturday night.
O'Reilly has the drive on favourite Whiskey Cavalier, trained by Andy Gath, who has already produced a winner in the series.
Thornley is on the Ashleigh Herbertson-trained Morrisons Dream, which has drawn gate four and comes off minor placings at St Arnaud and Horsham.
French has polemarker Major Watson for trainer Julie Douglas and Suvaljko is on the well-fancied Raconteur for Emma Stewart.
Points available: 1st 16 points; 2nd 11; 3rd 8; 4th 6; 5th 5; 6th 4; 7th 3; 8th 2; 9th 1