What a time it is for Aussies abroad.

Victoria’s James Herbertson instantly became a man in demand when he resumed his US working holiday last week.

It is remarkable to think a guy who has spent just a couple of weeks in the US can make such an impression that he snared 20 drives across two race meetings – including drives in all 16 races at Scioto Downs – yesterday (Melbourne time).

Herbertson, who won two races at Scioto Downs, jets out to Stockholm tomorrow for a week or so working with prominent and innovative local trainer Jorgen Westholm.

What a time to be there with the iconic Elitlopp – the race I believe is the best in the world – run next Sunday.

Herbertson, travelling with his partner Ewa Justice, will get to join the cheer squad for star Aussie trotter, The Locomotive, who will be just the fourth Australian to contest an Elitlopp.

Four Kiwis have contested it, too.

Across all eight, only the champion mare Pride Of Petite has been able to qualify for the final. She ran fourth in a heat in 1997 and sixth in the final three hours later.

The next closest was the great Lyell Creek. He finished fifth in a heat and only bad luck, when bailed up behind a tiring horse, cost him qualifying for the 2001 final won by the greatest of them all, Varenne.

It has been a tale of woe for the Aussies so far. A Touch Of Flair, Aussie-owned but then trained in the US, galloped when last in her 2007 heat.

Two years later, Chris Lang took dual Inter Dominion winner Sundons Gift across, but he struggled with the hustle and bustle of sprint racing and could only manage sixth spot in a heat.

Maori Time, still the fastest Australasian trotter of all time, galloped and lost all hope when down the track in 2018.

And, of course, Just Believe struck trouble and broke, losing all chance in 2023.

The bar is not set high for The Locomotive to create history, but past results say just making the final would be a huge performance.

A cruel barrier draw (gate seven in the second heat) has made the challenge so much harder. 

The reality is, as happy as his trainer-driver Brad Hewitt is, The Locomotive probably needed a draw to lead, or at least find the marker pegs, to have realistic chance of qualifying.

In front, his record is stunning, but elsewhere it is just average.

Now he's in the lap of the gods and needing to produce something very special to try and finish top four to qualify from that alley.

While he’s not as good as Just Believe, The Locomotive’s speed is better suited to the Swedish style of racing, especially in the sprint races.

Back to Herbertson, and the lingering question is: Will the increasing lure of the US see him make the full-time move?

It must be tempting … very tempting.

He is young, at the peak of his powers, has seen the success in recent times of Dexter Dunn and Todd McCarthy, and it is now clear he has some serious backing from leviathan owner Mark Weaver and Hall of Fame trainer Ron Burke.

Yet, there is so much for him to consider after the death of his great mate and idol Greg Sugars and the opportunities that creates at home.

When the dust settles on the Elitlopp and, hopefully we are all buzzing with a bold showing from The Locomotive, Herbertson will get some genuine holiday and think time in Europe.

In his own words … “there is so much to think about, my world has been turned upside down.”