Layne Dwyer has "high hopes" in Young Drivers Championship starting tonight
Adam Hamilton • November 4th, 2026 10:05 AM • 4 min read
Young Queenslander Layne Dwyer is pinching himself heading into the Australasian Young Drivers’ Championship (AYDC) in New Zealand which starts at Cambridge tonight.
Dwyer, 19, can’t believe he gets to represent his state and country for the first time and get to watch his “dream” horse, Leap To Fame, try to win his first Go Media NZ Trotting Cup.
“It really is a trip that’s got it all,” Dwyer said ahead of the series that will be run at four venues culminating in the final heat on Go Media New Zealand Trotting Cup day at Addington next Tuesday.
“If I could drive any horse in the world, it would be Leap To Fame. I’m lucky enough to see him race a lot at home and even driven against him at times, but to be there when he runs in the NZ Cup will be incredible.”
The four meetings where the Australasian Young Drivers’ Championship will be run:
Cambridge Raceway: Wednesday November 4th
Alexandra Park: Friday November 6th
Ashburton Trotting Club: Sunday November 8th
Addington: Tuesday November 10th (Go Media New Zealand Trotting Cup Day)
While Leap To Fame is Dwyer’s equine idol, his human equivalent is the late Greg Sugars.
“I always looked up to him. It’s so sad he passed, but I was very fortunate to get to spend lots of time with him. He’s definitely been my biggest influence,” he said.
Dwyer, son of prominent Queensland trainer Graham Dwyer, already boasts 328 career wins.
“My biggest win was on Cheerstolou in the Peak of the Creek Final at Albion Park (November 29, last year),” he said. “He’s the best horse I’ve driven, too. So fast and strong.”
Dwyer said driving for his state was something he’s wanted to do since first sitting in the sulky.
“It means a lot. It’s a massive privilege. I’ve wanted to do it for a while, so it’s surreal to think it’s actually happening," he said.
“It’ll be a fun challenge having to adapt to different tracks, different styles of racing and against drivers I haven’t competed against before.
“I think it’ll suit my approach, which is to not overthink things too much, just go out and play it by ear.
“Hopefully I can do Queensland proud. I’ve got high hopes.”
Queenslander Grant Dixon split the prize with Tasmania’s Ricky Duggan in the first AYDC back in 1993.
Since then, only two other Queenslanders have won: Chris Petroff in 2000 and Narissa McMullen in 2017.
New Zealand's representatives are Crystal Hackett, who's at her fourth AYDC, as well as Carter Dalgety and Wilson House.
Cambridge's Wednesday meeting will feature two heats Race 3, 7.04pm and Race 5 at 7.54pm.
Dwyer looks to have two good chances on the opening night with Memories and Franco Salah.
Watch all the racing action from Cambridge Raceway tonight as part of Out The Gate from 4:30 on Trackside 1, trackside.co.nz and the Trackside app. Race 1 is at 5:54
