Wayne Hill leads SA Charge in Drivers Championship

Leading local harness racing driver Wayne Hill is looking forward to the National Drivers Championship at Globe Derby this Saturday evening. Along with his sister Danielle he will represent the hopes of South Australians.

I’ve already won the series at Globe Derby six to seven years ago.

It’s always great to represent the state. And it’s good for our family including Danielle. It’s not often you get the best drivers to compete against.

It’s predictable when you drive against same drivers and horses week after week. So this adds some variety.

I have a good book of drives. All going well. Danielle also has a good book of drives but with some bad draws.

Tonkawaiken he gets into the race well in a small field. Chase The Stars is one of my better drives. He hadn’t raced for a couple of years and Ryan (Hryhorec) now has him.

Hill has won the State drivers title for the last three years and is looking good to take out this year’s title as he has a handy 32 win lead over Danielle.

It would be nice to win it again.

Hill is weighing up his options for next weekend’s slot race at Port Pirie the $100,000 Radiant. I drive a lot for Aaron Bain, who may have up to four starters in the slot race.

I understand that Jett Turnbull will be over for one of his runner and that he may get another interstate driver which takes the pressure off me. Hill’s wife Samantha trains the newly arrived pacer Repelling who recently won at Port Pirie in 1.54.5.

Looking further ahead Hill is eyeing the key feature races

Last year I was lucky enough to pick up the drive on Miki to Success in winning the SA Pacing  Cup.  I quite like Rankine, he won at his debut in the Lordship Stakes.

However Hill is optimistic about the prospects of promising trotter Reoffender.

He had an illness and was off the scene for a couple of years. Jill Neilson and Katie Wilson (trainers)  have done a great job with him. He’s never finished further back than second in his career. I think he could do much better next season in better classes.

Like all drivers Hill’s ambition is to win a Group 1 but with no Group 1 events in South Australia the task is difficult.

I’ve won a few Group 2 races and the closest I got was a second at Moonee Valley with one of Gavin Lang’s pacers.

However Hill is sure to be pleased if he or Danielle win the Drivers Title on Saturday.

 

By Tony Milanese for Harnesslink