Zaiden Delangen’s next step in the sulky

By Jordan Gerrans

The Graham Dwyer barn has been able to produce a talented youngster or two in recent years, with Zaiden Delangen the next cab off the rank in the driving ranks.

The 20-year-old Delangen follows Dwyer’s son Layne as well as young reinswoman Holly Chalmers, who has learnt her trade under the top horseman.

Delangen, who hails from Gatton, was at the races for the first time in his professional driving career at Redcliffe last Thursday and will be back in action on Wednesday night in search of his maiden winner in the bike.

The debutant reinsman partnered Denis The Punter into fifth place over 2040 metres last week.

In his second tilt into driving, Delangen gets in the bike behind Mister Freeman over 1780 metres on Wednesday evening.

Group 1-winning conditioner Dwyer describes his new young charge as an enthusiastic horseman, who is just as capable shoeing a horse as he is driving one.

“He's quietly spoken, but he is very keen. He'll jump in and have a go,” Dwyer said.

“I actually reckon he drives pretty good, too. He gets them to go alright. He is just a nice young fella and he puts in, he's a farrier, as well, so he does a lot of that.

“He's putting in on every area and time that he's got. He also rehomes horses, as well.

“He breaks them in, rides them and then sells them on. He's a young fella that's got a few fingers in the pie. He's got to go in a lot of different ways.

“He has a go. Now, he's obviously into this and he wanted to do the horses to get his licence.

“He's got his licence and the next step now is obviously to get that thing moving as well. But, he's really good.”

Delangen got his first taste of harness racing by working for Queensland trainer Jason Carkeet, before moving over to Dwyer’s camp in recent times.

While he has a background around horses, his experience with Carkeet was his first in a pacing operation.

“I've had horses all my life and definitely since working in a racing stable, it's actually built my confidence around horses and that,” the keen young reinsman said.

“But, having known horses all my life, it's good because you get to know them and get to know every different horse's personalities and how they work.

“It's more my sister and I that have really kept it going.

“My dad's got a horse and then mum doesn't. They don't really ride as much anymore, but me and my sister do. We always trail ride.”

The 52-year-old Dwyer first met Delangen when he was completing his farrier course through The University of Queensland at Gatton.

“He's fitted in good here,” Dwyer said.

Trainer Dwyer has young drivers Delangen and Chalmers at his disposal and is eager to give them both as much experience as possible as they build into their careers in the sulky.

“I'll just try and give each one drives each week,” he said.

“Because with a lot of our horses, they actually need a junior driver. The grade that they are racing is too strong.

“So, it's actually one thing that our stable does need is a junior.

“And, so we're lucky enough to have two. So, we'll be sharing around where both get the opportunities and I'm not scared to put them on.”

The young reinsman enjoyed his first experience in a race last week and is hopeful Mister Freeman can run well on Wednesday.

Mister Freeman has finished in the top four in each of his last five trips to the races.

“It's a lot different than the trials,” he said of his first time in the bike in a race.

“But, I just need to treat it like trackwork a little bit and you want to get the horse a good run, let it do its job.

“The horse, Denis The Punter, felt good. When I pulled him out, he was on the run.

“With, Mister Freeman, we have drawn seven again like last week.

“If I get the good run, I reckon he can pull through. He likes to follow a bit more, I reckon, just needs that bit of cover.”

After debuting earlier this year, teenager Chalmers has already achieved 11 winners in the bike, while Queensland reinsman Layne Dwyer will head to New Zealand next month to compete in the 2026 Australasian Young Drivers Championship.

Delangen believes the Dwyer barn is a great place to learn.

“Graham's really helped me out,” he said.

“He got me most of my trials as well, so I'm pretty lucky to have his stable to go to.

“I've learned heaps already, so I think I've only been there three months or so. He's helped me a bunch already, so I'm pretty lucky, even though Holly's there still.

“He's been able to find me a horse, give me a few drives, which is really good.”