By Duane Ranger
Matt Anderson wants to become the New Zealand Junior Driving champion, but his loyalty to the powerful ‘All Stars Stable’ on Jewels Day 2017 means more to him.
The 25-year-old Rolleston horseman could have had three drives at Alexandra Park tonight (Friday), but instead opted for one, so he could get an early flight back to Christchurch and be there for Mark Purdon and Natalie Rasmussen’s full-on day on Saturday.
“Tim (Vince) was very kind to me and offered me three drives in Auckland – Romanite (race six) and KD Hall (race seven). I’ve decided to fly up for the early race and just drive Drover’s Eyre in the fourth event.
“I will catch the 9pm flight back to Christchurch so I can be there for my employers on our big day. I only have one drive at Ashburton (All You Need Is Faith – race six), but there will be a lot of gearing up and post-race work to be done. It will be huge again,” Anderson said.
The former New Zealand representative soccer player is second on the New Zealand Junior Driver Championships. He has had 19 winners from 161 drivers. Pace-maker Rory McIlwrick has saluted 32 times from 321 drives.
“I would so much love to be the New Zealand or Australasian Driving champion. That is my goal because I only have another year left in the juniors.
“But I wouldn’t be winning anywhere if it wasn’t for ‘All Star Stable’ and I want them to know that I am loyal and they will always come first,” said Anderson.
The former St Thomas of Canterbury College student currently said he was looking forward to his first drive behind the Vince trained Drover’s Eyre.
“I don’t know too much about him but I do know that Tim has got him going along well at the moment with two wins from his last four starts.
“The draw doesn’t make it easy but I’m not going up there to see my old mates. I’m going up there to win. I want points and wins to get near the top,” he said.
Drover’s Eyre, who only cost Vince $2,000, has drawn 11 (of 11) but is still the first pick on HRNZ’s Trot Tech. The 7-year-old Falcon Seelster gelding has won seven of his 78 starts, including four over the 2200m mobile distance. He has had one unsuccessful start at Alexandra Park.
“Tim said he goes better the other way around but winning form is hard to topple and I will be giving the horse every chance of winning. I really want to pay back Tim for his kindness towards me,” Anderson said.
Anderson worked for Tony Herlihy (MNZM) at Ardmore before joining forces with the All Stars Stable a couple of seasons ago.
He has now reined home 62 winners and 102 place-getters from 445 drives since 2013. He has also banked just over $600,000 in stakes.
Anderson’s 19 wins this season are six fewer than what he achieved in his personal best year last season. He finished sixth on the natiopnal junior driving premiership in 2015-2016.
Drover’s Eyre is also a South Islander. He started his career with a seventh for East Eyreton trainer Mike Brown at Geraldine in December 2012.
He came north in August last year and so far Vince has won five races with him.
Toughest for Drover’s Eyre to beat in the junior driving event will be the Colin Butler trained and Tony Cameron driven Kilkeel Lady; and the Vince trained stablemate, Moondyne Joe (Jacob Wallace).
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