Close battle in Junior Drivers Championship

Canterbury trainer-driver John Morrison will take a two point lead into day two of the McMillan Equine Feeds New Zealand Junior Drivers Championship at Addington today.

He has 29 points, two ahead of Sheree Tomlinson, Sarah O’Reilly on 18 and Luke Whittaker on 14.

The two opening heats were held at Addington on Thursday, with three more today before the champion is decided. Twelve drivers, six from each island, are taking part.

Morrison will drive Dreamsinthe Mist (Race 2 - $9.50), Sneek A Peek (Race 3 - $8.50) and Cha Cha B (Race 5 - $14).

The early favourites are Tequila Sunset ($5.50) and Sarah O’Reilly in a very open Heat 3 (R2), the McMillan Equine Feeds Trot, then Tasman Tempest ($3) for defending champion Kerryn Tomlimson in Race 3, and Rocknroll Mama ($3.20) in the last heat (R5 @ 2.36pm).

Morrison, who’s on the verge of winning his third Junior Drivers Premiership, has never won the annual Junior Drivers Championship, with the last three champions being Kerryn Tomlinson, Sarah O’Reilly and Alicia Harrison.