Trainers, drivers select their Hygain Highlights of 2025

WITH 2025 just hours away from becoming history, it's timely to revisit some of the highs of the season.

On a personal note, my partner Kim Procter winning the Wangaratta Trotters' Cup with Abitofadreamer was a clear choice as the best moment of the past 12 months.

Kim's longtime goal had been to win a Cup, which Abitofadreamer delivered in track record time with Mark Pitt in the cart.

Adding to the occasion, it is also the first time Kim had trained a track record holder!

There have been so many stories like Kim's throughout the season, but rather than my National Trotguide colleagues and I selecting them, we decided to go straight to the source and ask several trainers and drivers about their 'Hygain Highlights'.

For New South Wales horseman Brad Hewitt "getting beaten was a highlight".

Hewitt trained and drove Rewatch to finish second in the Bathurst Gold Crown while his father, David, partnered Message Bank - which he also trains - to glory.

"My biggest thrill of the year would have to be running the quinella in the Gold Crown with Dad," Hewitt said. "Seeing him drive his first Group One winner was terrific."

Oddly enough, Queensland's Nathan Dawson also chose a moment he was runner-up as his best memory of the racing season.

In front of a home crowd, Dawson partnered Speak The Truth to finish second behind Leap To Fame in the Inter Dominion Final.

"Although I've won some nice races, I'd say running second in the Inter Final," Dawson declared. "It is the Inter Dominion afterall!"

Fellow 'Banana bender', Grant Dixon, who drove Leap To Fame to Inter glory, placed with victory on pair with the stallion's success in a $1million slot race in Cambridge.

"The Inter Dominion is the pinnacle and is always great to win, but for me personally, it is the win in Cambridge," Dixon said. "I've always wanted to drive a winner in New Zealand."

Rounding out the Queenslanders is young gun reinsman Angus Garrard, who was also triumphant in a slot race of a different kind.

Rather than horses filling race slots, drivers were picked by slot holders.

Enjoying his best season in the sulky with 187 wins, Garrard upstaged some of the world’s best to win the inaugural series at Albion Park.

"Winning the Ultimate Drivers' Championship for sure," Garrard said. "It was an amazing experience and something I will never forget."

Back to New South Wales, Jarrod Alchin earmarked his Australian Pacing Gold triumph with Bettors Creation as his highlight for its "satisfying" element.

Bettors Creation secured the $150,000 event at Club Menangle on June 14.

"We picked her out as a yearling and to then win the main race we targeted with her all along was very satisfying," Alchin said.

Having mentioned Club Menangle, registering her initial metropolitan win around the world class venue is Zara Fitzpatrick's favourite moment.

The 17-year-old partnered Cee Cee In Paris to victory in a Foundation Final.

"It was very exciting to get my first city win," Fitzpatrick said. "Especially because mum trains Cee Cee In Paris.

"It was my main goal for the year and a win I will always remember."

Although based in Victoria, Emma Stewart cited a pair of interstate wins as her stable's biggest moment.

Stewart rates The Protostar in Queensland as the number one win, but revealed her partner Clayton Tonkin believes The Eureka at Menangle heads all others.

Both features are slot races.

"For me, winning The Protostar with Loucasso takes the cake," Stewart said. "We were beaten a nose in the first year and it's the one race we wanted to win.

"For Clayton it's The Eureka as he broke in MJ (Bay Of Biscay) and has done everything with him. To have Fox Dan, another of Clayton's favourites, run second was pretty cool."

Despite completing a win which was "a lifetime in the making" when Sam Nien won a $125,000 Sales Final in Melton, Darren Pace leaned towards a sentimental moment as his 2025 highlight.

Pace's son Riley broke his maiden by steering Blazin By to an eye-catching win in Bendigo last August.

"Sam was my biggest win, but watching Riley drive his first winner was something else," Pace said. "We own the horse with my Dad (Vic) and got pretty excited that night!

"I remember how exciting it was driving my first winner for Dad and now having my sons driving winners for me is something all-the-more special."

Like Pace, Abbey Turnbull was victorious in a Sales Final, with her success in the $200,000 feature her proudest moment.

Turnbull partnered Delizioso to cause an upset in Melton on April 11.

"My highlight is winning the Final with Delizioso," Turnbull said "She is trained by my father and I share ownership in her with my mum, sister and some very close friends, which made the moment even more special.

"The feeling that night was truly like no other and will stay with me forever."

Unable to pinpoint a precise moment, Lochie Cook is "grateful" for the success he enjoyed throughout the year.

A highly sought-after concession driver, Cook registered a personal best 75 wins.

"I simply can't pick just one race," Cook said. "I drove some very nice horses for some very nice people, for which I am grateful.

"For me, the whole of 2025 was a highlight and I can only hope 2026 goes just as well."

South Australian Samantha Hill had no difficulty selecting her shining moment - the Pot Of Gold Final with Offyarocka Crocker.

Hill trained and drove the son of Art Major to capture the Final at Globe Derby last February.

"Winning the Pot Of Gold stands out for a few reasons," Hill said. "It's the first year they've run the race and is the first feature winner I've trained.

"It was also cool to win it with that horse because he was quite lowly-rated when I got him and not going very well, but he just clicked here and went through the grades."

Another who has enjoyed his best season Ryan Hryhorec won 150 races as a trainer and 114 as a driver.

It was his training success with Phoebe Onyx - driven by Gaita Pullicino - which sits at the top of Hryhorec's list of achievements.

"To be honest it's been a crazy good year, so to pick one is really hard," Hryhorec said. "But to win the SA Trotters' Cup for owner Mick Boots sits at the top."

Last, but certainly not least, Lisa Ryan enjoyed the "thrilling" nature of Delightfull Tammy's Gawler Cup success above her other 43 wins.

After racing in the 'death seat, Delightfull Tammy, trained by Ryan's husband Toby, staved off a late challenge from Bellezza Nera to score in 1:58.4 on March 24.

"Delightfull Tammy holding out Bellezza Nera in the Gawler Cup was very thrilling," Ryan said. "The Cormack family are terrific to drive for, and Tammy is one of my favourites, so to win the Cup with her at our home track was pretty special."

As the clocking winds closer to midnight, National Trotguide and Hygain wish everyone plenty of success in 2026.