Crystal Hackett goes trans Tasman with Team Teal

By Brigette Solomon

Leading North island junior driver Crystal Hackett has dashed to Australia to take part in tonight's Night at the Trots Team Teal race night at Melton in Victoria.

“I’ve got two drives and I’m excited to be invited over to drive in the female drivers' race on their Team Teal race night,” says Hackett.

Hackett is a Team Teal Ambassador here in New Zealand with the campaign aiming to increase awareness and raise funds for ovarian cancer research. The Australasian wide campaign runs from February 1 to March 15 and Hackett has already driven three winners earning donations from her sponsors.

The first of Hackett’s drives is on the Brent Lilley trained Yogi Son NZ in the Swift Signs Female Drivers Maiden Trot. Yogi Son has had just six starts for three placings, most recently placing third at Bendigo in his first start since joining the Lilley stables.

“Having drawn one tonight I think he’s a very good chance” says Hackett.

Her second drive is on Aldebaran Keepa NZ in Race five, the Lyn McPherson Memorial Breed for Speed Gold Series Final, worth $50,000.

Also trained by Brent Lilley, the five-year-old mare is a winner of three races and was originally trained here in New Zealand by Hackett’s parents Michelle Wallis and Bernie Hackett.

“She will need a bit of luck from the draw and against this field,” says Hackett “but I think she can finish in the first half of the field.”

Hackett’s sister Tyla, a successful show jumping rider, shares in the ownership of the mare who picked up a third placing in the Group 2 NZ Sires Stakes Trotters Championships as a three year old.

The New Zealand times for Hackett’s races are Race 3, Yogi Son at 9:04pm and Race 5, Aldebaran Keepa at 10:18pm.