The drivers will gather at the Pepper Tree Farm Breeders Challenge barrier draws on Sunday, June 21 before competing in heats at Young, Bathurst, Newcastle, Penrith and Tabcorp Park Menangle.

The Young Harness Racing Club will continue the support it has shown in the past as the major sponsor of the series.  

Secretary Brian Ingram is looking forward to having the drivers compete in two heats at Young on Tuesday, June 23.

“The club has always sponsored this series and it is great to see the top junior drivers in NSW getting the opportunity to compete against one another,” Ingram said.

“I am looking forward to seeing them race at Young this year as part of the series and the chance to drive at Menangle on Breeders Challenge finals day will be a big thrill for the junior drivers too.”

While racing is a major part of the week, the drivers will also get the opportunity to visit the stables of Luke and Belinda McCarthy and Steve Turnbull.  

The group will travel to Success Stud and undertake media training with Trots TV while under the care of Rachael and David Micallef.

HRNSW CEO John Dumesny congratulated all of the selected drivers and wished them the best of luck.

“When you look back at this series over the years, so many of our top drivers in NSW competed in this series at some stage,” Dumesny said.

“It also gives these young drivers a chance to meet one another and build friendships that will last a lifetime, a lot of planning goes into the Rising Stars series and I am sure they will enjoy all of the activities that have been scheduled.”

The competing drivers are:

Daniel Morgan

North East

Laura Spencer

North East

Jack Trainor

Metropolitan

Thomas Ison

North West

Reece Maguire

Ellen Bartley

Madison Reynolds

Western Districts

Nathan Carroll

Western Districts

Chris Geary

Defending champion still to be announced.