Tasracing CFO John Luk presented Matthew with his Tasmanian representative colours at Sunday night’s Tasmanian Pacing Club meeting in Hobart.

Matthew became the youngest winner of the Youngblood’s Challenge in 2013 at just 16 years of age and repeated his title win again in 2016.

Proudly following his father’s and grandfather’s footsteps into harness racing, Matthew first hit the track in pony races at six years old.

Matthew’s driving career commenced in November 2012 and he greeted the winner’s circle just two months later. 

He also clinched the 2015/16 Tasmanian Junior Drivers’ Title and has racked up 60 winners in total including a victory on Sunday night in Hobart with Rockin An Rollin.

The best young talent from each state, along with three representatives from New Zealand face the first round of AYDC heats Wednesday at Redcliffe.

The series, showcasing the star drivers of tomorrow, then moves to Albion Park on Friday, with the last round of heats held on the final night of the Queensland Summer Carnival on Saturday.

Albion Park’s chairman David Fowler said the Australasian Young Drivers Championships provided many benefits for both the drivers and industry.

“These are our driving stars for the future and series like these give them a really good shot of being in the national limelight,” he said.

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The eyes of the nation will be on Hobart on Thursday night as Tasmania’s best chasers attempt to stave off a mainland invasion in seven quality heats.

The Matthew Lanigan-trained reigning champion Zipping Bruiser, is back to defend his crown aiming to emulate the incredible feat of 1961-62 winner Ophir Doll, and become only the second greyhound in the rich history of Australia’s longest running Classic to win back-to-back titles.

The Seona Thompson juggernaut is headed by Bewildering, acknowledged in many quarters as the fastest greyhound in Australia, and early markets have the winner of the Gr2 Speed Star and Gr3 Silver Bullet favourite for the $75,000 winner’s cheque.

The Shane Whitney-prepared local star Two Bills has gone to another level this season, capturing the Tasmanian Derby, the Luxbet Gold Cup and last week’s Hobart Thousand Prelude, leaving highly regarded sprinters in his wake.

Wynburn Cutie burst onto the Tasmanian chasing scene this year for trainer Ben Englund, winning 14 of 17 races including the Laurels and HGRC Young Star Classic on the Hobart track.