3 minute read

James Herbertson’s incredible 2024 season finished with another amazing high on New Year’s Eve when he took out the second running of the Garrard’s Young Guns series.

James Herbertson won the series in the final event of the night and without driving a winner on the card at Melton Entertainment Park, nailing Luke Dunne and Southpaw Slugger with his horse Icanmotor in a photo finish to grab third in the last of eight races.

This lifted Herbertson to 64 points overall, two clear of Ryan Backhouse and a further two ahead of Dunne.

"It's incredible," Herbertson, 24, said.

"I sat two races out, didn't win a race and I've still managed to get on top of the podium. You just wouldn't think you'd get there, but we just had enough luck I guess."

Herbertson, who finishes the 2024 season with 370 winners and secures a maiden Australian driving premiership, receives an incredible prize for claiming the Young Guns series thanks to Garrard's and overseas partnerships.

The prize:

Trip to Solvalla, Sweden for the 2025 Elitloppet

Ticketing for three days of the Elitloppet carnival, including a guest(s)

Return economy airfares and accommodation

Training and driving program with leading horseman Jörgen Westholm for up to two weeks

Sean O'Sullivan and Ryan Backhouse drove winning doubles on the night, while Jordan Leedham, Ewa Justice, Dunne and Liam Older all had success.

WINNERS

RACE 1: SKYFALL BENCHMARK (Stephen O'Donoghue/Jordan Leedham)

RACE 2: RUDY GEE (Michael Stanley/Ewa Justice)

RACE 3: CORRAVALLY STAR (Andy Gath/Sean O'Sullivan)

RACE 4: EDWARDE GRANGE (Clive Henderson/Ryan Backhouse)

RACE 5: ALDEBARAN BROOKE (Alison Alford/Sean O'Sullivan)

RACE 6: MALANI JOH (Julie Brimacombe/Ryan Backhouse)

RACE 7: MAJESTIC GA GA (Mary-Jane Mifsud/Luke Dunne)

RACE 8: CINQUANTA (Rob O'Connell/Liam Older)