KEY POINTS:
Every junior driver in New Zealand wants to be at Addington tonight - except Megan Shepherd.
The 18-year-old is happy to be heading to Alexandra Park, even though the elite youngsters of her profession will be battling for the New Zealand junior drivers' championship over three races at Addington.
The reason is simple. Shepherd is driving a potential open class trotter in La Femme D'Argent at Alexandra Park.
The two inexperienced young ladies have formed a potent partnership in the last month, winning two of their three outings.
For Shepherd they have been the first two wins of her career and, as with La Femme D'Argent, there look to be plenty more in store.
Shepherd, who works for Tony Grayling, got the drive on La Femme D'Argent in a junior drivers' race three weeks ago because the mare's trainer Rua Te Puni has known her since she was a kid. "Winning on her then was great but I was surprised to retain the drive," admits Shepherd.
"It was something different for me to go to Alexandra Park and drive a horse with confidence. I think we are both learning all the time."
La Femme D'Argent looks one of the most promising trotters in the country and would be the favourite for the 4-year-old mare of the year title if it wasn't for the fact her form has come so late in the season.
And while she faces a 10m handicap tonight, it is only a small field and she demonstrated enormous stamina to win when parked last week.
Tonight's field is stronger though, with Starcus, Spot Of Gold and Bellams Last Play all in-form mares capable of winning without surprising.
La Femme D'Argent isn't Shepherd's only winning chance tonight though, with Clonmel having an upset hope in race four.
The rugged pacer was undone by losing an early speed duel last Friday but his earlier form was good and he looks at least a quinella hope in a race dominated by Perfect Cullen.
"If we can get out and hold the trail I think he has at least a place chance," said Shepherd.
But the fact the young reinswoman got the Clonmel drive at all speaks volumes for the confidence boost La Femme D'Argent has provided to her career.
"Sally Fenning [Clonmel's trainer] rang me last Sunday to make sure nobody else booked me for the race, so that was something different."
