By Michael Guerin
Outstanding young driver Crystal Hackett could start the next phase of her career on a high at Alexandra Park tonight.
The Group 1-winning driver has moved employers after nearly five years working for Barry Purdon and Scott Phelan during which time she drove 168 winners in New Zealand and has been the leading junior driver in the North Island three times before finishing second on that table to Harrison Orange last year.
She also drove Mach Shard to win two Group 1 races and has become a regular feature in the winner’s circle at the competitive Alexandra Park Friday night meetings, including driving three winners last Friday.
“I loved my time working for Barry and Scotty and am leaving on good terms but it was still sad to go,” Hackett says.
“But I think I have gone as far as I can there and got a wonderful opportunity to work for Matty White, where I started on Monday.”
Hackett is not only a popular freelance driver, particularly for a junior, but also the regular driver for her parents Michelle Wallis and Bernie Hackett for whom she has winning chances in three of the richest races at Alexandra Park tonight.
Crystal will partner Belle Neige in the $40,000 Fiskens Breeders Stakes (7.44pm) for the trotting mares and while she faces a 30m handicap that is not as bad as it sounds.
Not only is the sole front marker scratched but there are only six in the race and Belle Neige is coming out of Group 1 placings behind her stablemate Hillbilly Blues.
“She hasn’t raced for a while but we gave her a trial against Mako [a pacer] two weeks ago and she hit the line really well,” says Hackett.
“I think she will be fit enough to win and I am sure she is the horse to beat.”
While the field contains some in-form mares Belle Neige has beaten them all regularly this campaign so if she races up to her best her $2.45 opening price will be value.
To see the fields for the Breeders Stakes click here
Hackett also pilots Final Approach for her parents in tonight’s $35,000 Classique Landscapers Metro Trot Final (8.39pm) and he has been impressive winning both runs this campaign.
He overcame an early gallop to win last Friday and his young driver admits a repeat of those manners from the tricky barrier 1 on the 10m mark is her biggest worry.
“He is a good trotter going places so if we can get the start right he is going to be really hard to beat,” says Hackett.
Another trotter who got the start wrong last time but didn’t get away with it was Magic Dash (R4, No.1) who gives Hackett a shot at a trotting treble even though he faces a tough stablemate in Confessional
“He is usually good from a stand but once in a while he throws in a bad one and that was last start.
“But the start before he trotted home in 57 seconds to win so he could win again.”
Later in the night Hackett pilots well-bred Canterbury mare Queen Lizzy in the $35,000 Grand Park Metro Pacing Final (8.09pm) for trainer Mark Jones.
“I am stoked to be on her again and she has to be a good chance but it is a really strong field,” says Hackett.
That final features the return of champion driver Anthony Butt to Alexandra Park to partner Allamericanplayer ($2.25FF).
Butt has been living in Victoria but is returning to Canterbury to live and will work for Team Telfer, which could make him an Alexandra Park regular in coming months as the premiership stable divide their resources.