James Herbertson and TracyThe Jet after winning The Ascent in 2025. Photo by hrnz
AUSTRALIA’S premier driver James Herbertson can’t wait to get back to Albion Park.
At his last trip to “The Creek” back in February, Herbertson blitzed a star-studded international line-up to win the Ladbrokes Ultimate Driver Championship.
Herbertson, who was born in Queensland, returns with drives in Saturday night’s two Group 1 features, Double Lou in the $350,000 Group 1 Rising Sun and Tracy The Jet in the $150,000 Group 1 Great Square.
“It’s exciting to be heading back,” he said. “Especially for a fantastic meeting like this.
Herbertson continues his close association with trainer Jess Tubbs with Tracy The Jet. Last November they combined to win a Group 1 slot race in NZ with the then three-year-old filly.
“We know how good she is at her best and I’m sure if she runs to her best, she’ll be right in this,” he said.
“She wasn’t quite right at her last run, but I also over-drove her, it wasn’t my best drive.
“She had a bit of a freshen-up and we gave her a quiet trial at Melton where she felt pretty forward. She’s in a good place.
“She’s had the trip up to tighten her up again and I’m sure Jess will have her ready.”
Herbertson isn’t sure how the race will play out from gate five.
“She’s good out, but not a rocket,” he said. “With her, you sort of let her find her feet and she then likes to press forward and keep rolling.
“It’s a terrific race. I don’t know where to look for dangers, it looks like pretty much any horse can win it, there’s so much depth.”
Herbertson landed the Double Lou drive in unfortunate circumstances when trainer and regular driver Bailey McDonough crashed from an e-scooter after Monday’s barrier draw.
“He smashed himself up a bit and can’t drive. It’s not the best way for me to pick up the drive, but he’s obviously a lovely horse. That win last week was unbelievable after the work he did,” he said.
“I’ve watched him, but never raced against him or anything. His owner actually asked me to drive him at his first start at Wagga, but I couldn’t, it’s strange how things work like that sometimes.
“He’s got gate speed, but so do lots of horses drawn inside him.
“It’s an amazing race, one of the best I’ve driven in.”
Herbertson’s other key driver is the talented Oliver Dan from gate two in an Inter Dominion pacing heat for Emma Stewart and Clayton Tonkin.
“It’s a good draw, but old Max Delight is drawn inside us and I think they’d been to hold the lead, so hopefully I can land somewhere handy,” he said.
PHOTO: HRNZ/Races Images NZ
