By Danny Matthews and Ken Warren
Local knowledge counts early before internationals make late run.
It was not that the Australian drivers had the better chances in the early heats of the inaugural Ultimate Driver Championship, but it was as much a matter of international stars finding their own stride on the opening night of The Ultimate Driver at Albion Park.
Across the first ten heats of this unique event saw Queensland young gun Angus Garrard take a lead into night two with 98 points followed by Western Australia's pin-up driver Gary Hall Jnr (93) with New Zealand but now US-based Dexter Dunn in third on 74.
The first slot event of its kind where holders select the driver to represent them, and then they select their runners in each of the 20 heats via a midweek draft, placings matter as much as wins and in Hall Jnr's case, they contributed to him being high up on the table but two early wins and five other top four finishes helped Garrard – known as "The Kid" – to wear the green leaders' cap overnight into Saturday events for the SEN, Garrards and 1Equine Syndicate.
Brad 'Hollywood' Hewitt snared the opening race in a last gasp drive to the line denying New Zealand young gun Carter Dalgety an all the way victory.
Garrard's win set the early pace with prices at $6.50 and $18.
"It definitely started better than I expected," Garrard said.
"I thought we'd be around the mark but we picked an a couple of winners and pressed on from there.
"We only need a slice of luck on Saturday night and I think we can be close again."
Of the visiting international stars, it took Swedish sporting superstar Bjorn Goop until heat 8 to notch a victory with outsider Tracer Bullet ($19) while Canadian master Yannick Gringras put himself on the winners' list in heat nine steering $2.20 favourite Instant Delight.
"I'm getting a lot more comfortable out there," Gringras said.
"There was an early drive that I should have done it differently and that might cost me some early points later on."
It took until heat ten for early championship favourite Nathan Dawson to notch a win which came courtesy of an impressive display by Its Electrifying ($1.04 favourite).
"Early Ladbrokes betting markets for night two suggest Yannick Gingras and Bjorn Goop are the two reinsmen likely to earn some big points," Racing and Sports harness expert Ken Warren said.
"Both will steer two early favourites – Gingras 60 points driving Bronski Zulu ($3.20 in race 2) and Thesunandthemoon ($1.90 in race 6) while Goop (59 points) will drive Jimartee ($2.50 in race 4) and Island Bouhinia ($2.30 in race 9).
"Dexter Dunn could also land some big points, particularly later on in the program. He drives Risk Taker ($4.40 in race 5), Houston Street ($3.10 in race 8), Shackouttheback ($5 in race 9) and Joans Rising Star ($2.50 in race 10)."