Harness Racing driver Rohan Hillier will be hoping for a bit more luck in this year’s Australian Drivers Championship in Hobart.
Hillier represented the state in last year’s series at Adelaide’s Globe Derby, where he finished down the point’s table, and he will again represent the state, along with Dylan Ford, in this year’s championship, which is the first time the state will be represented by two Group 1 winning drivers.
Ford, who is this season’s leading driver in the state, partnered Jorge Street to victory in this year’s Group 1 Tasmania Cup, while Hillier has two Group 1 wins to his name, the 2013 Victorian Oaks with Barynya and the 2012 Tasmanian Oaks with High Flying Ruler, back when the race had Group 1 status.
“I really enjoyed competing in it last year. I met some new people, and obviously, you look up to those sorts of drivers. It was a great experience, and I can’t wait for Sunday,” said Hillier.
Hillier won his first state drivers title in the 2024 season with 80 wins, and he is fifth this season with 51 wins and 71 placings, with 88 fewer drives for the season.
“It’s hard to get the drives these days, as I don’t drive for the two largest stables, so it doesn’t leave many to get a drive on, so it has been a good season really,” said Hillier who this year has claimed the Easter Cup and Golden Apple, both at Group 3 level, and he also claimed the 2YO Fillies Sweepstakes with Zoe Ella.
Hillier will compete in five of the six Australian Drivers Championship heats, with not enough nominations for a full field across the heats.
“There are some handy ones there, and there are a couple that are a bit out of form, so hopefully they can turn it around,” Hillier said about his drives.
“Stranded Lollipop (in heat five) is up in grade, he has got a good turn of foot, and if he gets the right run, he will be thereabouts.
“Most of these invitation drivers races there is usually a good tempo, so there is no need to worry about someone leading and walking around, as it simply doesn’t happen.”
The heats of the series are race two through to seven on the eight-race program, with extended coverage on Tasracing Live.
The first race is scheduled for 13:19.
Full rules on the Australian Drivers Championship, including the points structure, which changes in the six fields, are available here.
