Devon Towers latest to join northern driving ranks

By Dave Di Somma, Harness News Desk 

Already brimming with talent, the North Island junior drivers' scene is about to get a new addition.

Devon Towers has been given the all-clear to drive on race-day and could be in action in the next week or so. 

It could come as early as March 10 at Manawatu, just a day after her 22nd birthday with Major Nightmare, a three-year-old filly trained by her father Brendan Towers.

"We are still talking about that," she laughs.

Towers was brought up around horses in Taranaki. Her dad has been training and/or driving winners since the 1990s and has been a key figure in the sport in Hawera, and is a former Club president.

After starting out in Pony Club Devon Towers then moved into Kidz Kartz. 

"I did that for five years, from when I was 12 and my two biggest wins were the 2019 Inter Dominion and the 2020 Auckland Cup."

Part of HRNZ's Cadet scheme she also had a stint at Matty White's Cambridge stables before starting her current job with Peter and Vaughan Blanchard at Pukekohe 14 months ago.

So is she ready for her race-day debut?  

"I'm probably not 100 per cent confident yet but with time I'll improve," she says modestly, "I've got the basics."

She's hoping as well as her dad agreeing for her to drive Major Nightmare that the Blanchards will also come to the party. They currently have 13 horses in work.

"They've promised to give me a chance," she says. 

Towers joins a pool of accomplished northern junior drivers that includes the likes of Crystal Hackett, Harrison Orange, Kate Coppins, Jacob Dunn, Monika Ranger and Emily Johnson. Another newcomer Ollie Gregory also had his first race-day drive, only last month.