1Equine Australasian Young Drivers Championship - Jordy Chibnall
The 2026 1Equine Australasian Young Drivers Championship will be held in New Zealand from the 4th November with 9 heats being run at Cambridge, Alexandra Park and Ashburton and the final heat being run on 10th November at Go Media New Zealand Cup Day at Addington.
Tasmanian Jordy Chibnall will be representing her State for the second time.
The 24 year old competed in last year’s championship held in Brisbane, finishing in eighth place.
“I’m excited to get to New Zealand, I’ve never been overseas. I’ll have to get a passport (laughter),” said the winner of 272 races.
In addition to driving, Chibnall is into her second season of training. She’s geared up eleven winners from just seventy three starters and is pretty familiar with New Zealand harness racing.
“I watch a little bit of it as I also train for Mick Boots. He purchases a fair few horses from New Zealand so I keep a little bit of an eye on it.”
She’s recently taken on the training of Magnetic Terror whom she’s driven to win eleven races.
“He’s a high class FFA horse here in Tassie.”
Her feature wins as a driver have been Glenledi Elvis in the Tassie Golden Apple, Magnetic Terror in the Devonport Cup and Twilight Storm in the G3 Evicus Final.
“He (Twilight Storm) paid 150 to 1 so that was a highlight. That win on Magnetic Terror in the Devonport Cup was really special.”
She’s also just taken over the training of Ultimaction.
“She’s one of the best mares in Tassie. I’ve got a very good team. I’m very lucky to have Mick supporting me and all the other owners as well.”
Jordy doesn’t come from a harness racing background but her father trains thoroughbreds.
“I wanted to be a jockey, then I realised you can’t eat much. I love to eat so that went out the window pretty quick. I went and did the mini carts (Kidz Kartz in New Zealand). I fell in love with driving and I’ve driven ever since.”
If she needs advice, Chibnall’s likely to tap the shoulder of Rohan Hillier who’s driven more than eleven hundred winners.
“He’s a big mentor of mine. I’m stabled with him and Lisa Lewis. Lisa actually got me into driving. I used to work for her when I was in Melbourne. I’m not originally from Tasmania, I’m from Kilmore.”
Chibnall names Carrick is her favourite track in Tasmania.
“It’s a country track. We race there probably five times a year over summer. It’s a beautiful track and Magnetic Terror and I actually hold nearly every track record there.”
She says she feels ready to go.
“I’m excited but very nervous. It’s a great group. There are not too many girls so hopefully the girl power can really kick through.”
Tasmanian drivers have been successful nine times in the Australasian Young Drivers Championship – Gareth Rattray in 2010, James Austin 2007, James Rattray 2005, Gareth Rattray 2003, Adrian Duggan 1997, Ricky Duggan who shared the title with Grant Dixon (Queensland) in 1993, Rohan Hadley 1990, Leigh Dornauf 1980 and Don McVilly in 1978.
by Bruce Stewart, for Harnesslink
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