1Equine Australasian Young Drivers Championship - Carter Dalgety

The 2026 1Equine Australasian Young Drivers Championship will be held in New Zealand from the 4^th November with it’s 9 heats run at Cambridge, Alexandra Park and Ashburton and the final heat run on 10^th November at Go Media New Zealand Cup Day at Addington.

Twenty three year old New Zealander Carter Dalgety will don the silver fern for the second time in the AYDC. He drove in the last series in Queensland.

“It was at Albion Park and Redcliffe. Probably the standard of horses was a bit lower than we’ve got in New Zealand but it was great fun. It helped because no one knew the horses apart from the locals,” he said.

Dalgety has won 324 races in New Zealand, including 12 Group Ones and he’s looking forward to racing against the seven Australian drivers involved in the series.

“They’re very sharp drivers. They have a very different style of driving compared to us kiwis. They’re a lot harder and faster drivers who obviously race more over the short trips.”

Dalgety is into his sixth season of driving and both his parents Cran and Chrissie come up through strong harness racing routes.

“There was no pressure to get into the game and I probably steered away from it more than anything. I started a bit later than anyone else and found my way into it and got the bug really.”

Dalgety say Dexter Dunn has influenced his driving style.

“When I was in America learning  there, I definitely tried to use his style a wee bit.”

Carter says he’s had a number of highlights in his career.

“I’m lucky enough to have a few of them. Two Auckland Cups with Republican Party stack right up there. When I was over in America – driving my first winner at the Meadowlands and I drove a treble one day at Harrah’s Philadelphia one day. Driving in the unknown and getting three in one day was pretty cool.”

Carter says Republican Party and Krug are the best horses he’s driven.

“Krug when he was at his best was just a beast.”

He names Cherish Me and Tour Party as two horses of the future.

“Cherish Me is quite a big raw filly and she’s still learning the game even though she’s a late three year old. She’s very powerful and a great stayer. She’s a mare that could take on the boys one day. Tour Party gives you a real electric feel when he’s on.”

Carter says winning the New Zealand Cup is at the top of his list of races to win but he’d also like to win the New Zealand Derby and the New Zealand Oaks

The kiwi trio of Crystal Hackett, Wilson House and Dalgety will all be looking at becoming the tenth New Zealand driver to win the AYDC.

“When you look at the list of drivers who have won it most of them go on and become top drivers in the open grades. It’s a hard one to win.”

The last time the championship was held in New Zealand was in 2019 where heats were held at Addington, Methven, Manawatu (two days) and Alexandra Park. New Zealander Sarah O’Reilly took away the title.

by Bruce Stewart, for Harnesslink