Local young gun Angus Garrard has boldly predicted the first Ultimate Driver Championship crown will remain in Queensland as the inaugural event nears.
The 21-year-old will fly the flag for the Sunshine State alongside fellow leading Queensland reinsman Pete McMullen and Nathan Dawson.
While the first UDC has attracted headline drivers from across the globe, Garrard thinks his local peers will be the hardest to hold out when it all gets underway next week.
In the exciting new concept, 10 of the world’s top harness drivers will battle it out across 20 races, spread over two feature nights at Albion Park across February 21 – 22.
Asked to nominate a likely winner of the first event, if he is not to be the champion, Garrard was quick to select McMullen and Dawson.
McMullen and Dawson – who are cousins – have written their names into the record books in recent years as they both have surpassed 300 victories in a single season.
“I think Pete and Nathan are probably going to be the hardest to beat,” Garrard predicted.
“Along with myself, they know the stock here, the racing style and the horses. I think that will stand them in really good stead.”
As the Queensland trio have all driven at Albion Park consistently for years, and do so three or four times a week, Garrard believes the ‘home track’ knowledge and nous will be crucial.
“I think the home track advantage is definitely going to be big in this series,” he said.
“It is one thing that the outsiders are going to find a little tricky is rating our horses and map out how these races are going to be run.
“I definitely think it is a big advantage leading in.”
McMullen, Garrard and Dawson are the leading three local drivers in the early stages of the 2025 season, with all three grabbing 20 or more winners as of Wednesday morning.
Garrard has posted the most victories of any concession drivers so far this term, as well.
The young reinsman will drive in the first UDC for a slot that is shared by media company SEN, Garrards Horse and Hound – which his family operates – and 1Equine.
As he is one of the most inexperienced reinsmen in the series, alongside Kiwi youngster Carter Dalgety, Garrard is looking forward to competing against the crop of world-renowned harness drivers.
“I am super excited to be involved in the first Ultimate Drivers series,” Garrard said.
“It has created a lot of hype world-wide.
“I am super keen to get out there and spend some time with some world-class drivers.”
When asked which of the international drivers he was most keen to compete against, Garrard was quick to nominate champion Kiwi Dexter Dunn.
Dunn – who is regarded as one of the best drivers in the world - drove 2,226 winners in NZ and 55 in Australia before moving to the US to continue his career in 2018.
“Dexter is the obvious one,” the local Queenslander said.
“He has been the pinnacle world-wide for harness drivers for quite a while now.
“I am super keen to get out there and take him on as well as all the other guys, as well. All the drivers have a great record and I am sure it will be a great week.”
The unique UDC series will see slot holders pick both the drivers and horses to compete in the slots across the 20 races.
They select both the drivers and horses to compete in their respective slots, with over $250,000 in prize money on offer.
“Since its unveiling, the Ultimate Driver Championship has gained significant momentum both in Australasia and abroad,” Racing Queensland’s General Manager of Racing David Brick said.
“It’s encouraging to see a number of industry stakeholders come together to form syndicates in order to take part in the inaugural series."
Click here to learn more about the Ultimate Driver Championship.
