1Equine Australasian Young Drivers Championship - Jett Turnbull
The 2026 1Equine Australasian Young Drivers Championship will be held in New Zealand from the 4th November with it’s 9 heats run at Cambridge, Alexandra Park and Ashburton and the final heat run on 10th November at Go Media New Zealand Cup Day at Addington.
Representing New South Wales, nineteen year old Jett Turnbull comes from a family steeped in Australian harness racing history.
His grandfather Tony Turnbull part-owned and trained Hondo Grattan which won back to back Inter Dominions in 1973 and 1974.
The family also raced Smooth Satin which won $1.4 million including the 2002 Inter Dominions at Harold Park and Jett’s father Nathan, whom he works for, trained and drove Better Be The Best to win the 2023 NSW Derby.
“We usually get up at 6.30am and we work about sixty horses every day. We have races three or four times a week, so it’s pretty busy,” he said.
Jett’s biggest win came in the 2023 TAB Regional Championship Final at Menangle when he won on Glitter Aint Gold trained by his father.
“Dad and I got him as an early three year old. He did a lot of things wrong, but we got him up to win a $100,000 race. It was amazing especially having Dad on track as well. We absolutely loved the horse.”
Jett says he doesn’t know a lot about harness racing in New Zealand but is keen to find out more.
“I’ve got a lot of friends over there, Harrison Orange, Sam Thornley and Wilson House who I met at the Young Drivers Championship in Brisbane last year. I can’t wait to get over there. It’s going to be a massive thrill.”
Jett who has driven 610 winners says the horse he’s liking in the stable at the moment is Nathan Street (Lazarus).
He’s won eight races but has only just joined the Turnbull barn.
“He’s only had one start for us and he folded late. I reckon he’ll be a good one in a couple of months or so.”
New South Wales drivers have won the Championship four times – Josh Gallagher in 2023, Todd McCarthy 2016, Trevor Munday 2004 and Peter Morris in 1976 the inaugural running of the competition.
by Bruce Stewart, for Harnesslink
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