Anderson racing for good cause

It is not just trophies and winning glory that Matt Anderson will be chasing in the New Zealand Junior Drivers Championships, which wrap up at Forbury Park on Saturday.

Matt Anderson. Photo: ODT
Matt Anderson. Photo: ODT

The Championship will see six of the best junior drivers from both the North and South Islands battle for series honours in two heats at Addington on Friday and two heats at Forbury Park on Saturday.

During the series, Anderson will wear Ronald McDonald house themed racing silks and donate the money from his driving fees, as well as any stake money he collects during the series, to the charity.

Ronald McDonald House provides support for children and their families who are going through medical treatments near Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch hospitals.

Anderson's first association with Ronald McDonald House Charities came when he and his sponsors raised $2000 for its Christchurch base in the lead up and him competing in the Australasian Young Drivers Championship in Perth, last year.

After being invited to visit their Ronald McDonald's Christchurch house, Anderson was motivated to continue his association with the charity.

``I visited Ronald McDonald House in Christchurch and it was sobering experience meeting the children and the families who are going through tough times.

``When I made the initial contact with them, I said I was keen to be consistently trying to help them, rather than it being a one-off thing.''

Anderson steers the in-form She'sa Tricky Bridge in the opening heat of the series at Addington and then Smooth Mara from a tricky draw in heat two.

The reinsman rates the Lyndon Bond trained Martin McGuinness as his best chance of picking up series points at Forbury Park.

``I think he would be my best chance - I think he could win.''

The pacer has the gate-speed to lead and make his own luck, while his main rivals Arthur Lowe, The Persuader and Nerve Of Steel each operate from trickier barrier draws.

In race 7, the final heat of the series, Anderson drives King Cassidy a rough place chance if he bring his best form.

The trotter will need to bring exaclty that kind of form to compete with last week's winner Och Aye The Noo and the consistent Another Delight.

Anderson will also donate his driving fees and stake money from drives outside their junior drivers series tomorrow night and on Saturday.

He rates Machie Mach the best of those and an eachway chance in race 8 at Forbury Park on the back on his third behind runaway winner Sweet As, last week.

Anderson also steers Wayward Roc, who he hopes ``running on if they go hard up front'' in race 6 and Flying, a rough place chance in race 4. 

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