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By Dave Di Somma, Harness News Desk\u00a0<\/p>\n
With just seven meetings left in 2025, the Junior Drivers Premiership is neck and neck.<\/p>\n
Just one win separates Carter Dalgety, with 88 for the season, and closest rival Wilson House (87), with the TAB having Dalgety at $1.60 to win the premiership for a second time while House is at $2.<\/p>\n
Both will be in action at Cambridge on Christmas Eve for their 12-race programme, starting at noon.<\/p>\n
The match race between the pair has a very familiar ring to it.<\/p>\n
Last year Dalgety was locked in a similarly tense battle with Sam Thornley.<\/p>\n
Helped by a four win haul on Invercargill Cup day Dalgety clinched his first title with 67 wins, three ahead of Thornley, with House on 52.<\/p>\n
This year both Dalgety and House have had career best years.<\/p>\n
Included in Dalgety’s stellar last 12 months have been five Group 1s. It’s believed to be a record for a junior driver in this country.<\/p>\n
And his tally could be six, with Republican Party heavily favoured to win the Auckland Cup on New Year’s Eve.<\/p>\n
He has had 546 drives this year compared to House’s 686.<\/p>\n
At Cambridge on Wednesday Dalgety will have three drives and House will have five. But throughout the day the pair will not square off in the same race.<\/p>\n
House will drive five for his father Michael House. They are Silent Theory (R1), Shezabettorgirl (R3),Koko Kaboom (R8), Gotta Elect Bill (R9) and Million Dollar Chic (R12).<\/p>\n
Dalgety has three outside drives – (R2) Joe Kennedy for Derek and Neita Balle, (R4) I’m True Enough for Tate Hopkins and (R7) Rushkinoff for Sheryl Wigg.<\/p>\n
Dalgety is well acquainted with the latter however. The Sweet Lou five-year-old was trained by Dalgety’s parents Cran and Chrissie before his recent move north, and Carter drove him in all three of his wins so far.<\/p>\n
If Carter wins the Premiership it will complete a notable double. He won the Junior Drivers Championship earlier in the year.<\/p>\n
The seven meetings left in 2025 are :<\/p>\n
December 24 – Cambridge
December 26 – Westport
December 27 – Gore
December 28 – Westport
December 29 – Motukarara
December 30 – Reefton
December 31 – Auckland\u00a0<\/p>\n
The Cambridge meeting could also see a new training record.<\/p>\n
The Stonewall Stud brother-sister combo of Steve and Amanda Telfer have 168 wins in 2025. That ties the all-time 12-month record with Roy and Barry Purdon in 1993-94.<\/p>\n
They have seven chances to break that record at Cambridge – (R1) S S Guppy, (R2) Andarta, (R3) Delightful Chic, (R7) Upstage, (R9) Iron Brigade and Akatea, and (R11) Amazing Captain.<\/p>\n