Last season’s leading Tasmanian driver Conor Crook and junior driver premiership winner Jordan Chibnall are set to leave the state and continue their careers in Victoria.
The duo’s last meeting based in Tasmania will be in Launceston on Sunday night before they move to their base at the new state-of-the-art training centre at Shepparton, which is currently being developed.
Conor indicated his intentions to move to tasracing.com.au back on 26 March.
“I am looking at taking a team over when we cut back to one meeting a week over winter, it sort of cuts back the money I can earn.
“We will see how we go over the winter period if we would stay, or if we are out of our depth over there, we will come back,” Conor said at the time.
It has been a rapid rise for Conor, who arrived in the state from New South Wales in 2016.
The 26-year-old is now being recognised for his efforts as a trainer, where he has prepared 71 winners in his first three and a half seasons.
Conor’s partner, Jordan Chibnall, arrived in Tasmania in 2021, and had a successful season in the sulky with 39 winners in what was her first full season, and she is looking forward to returning to her home state.
“I’m excited to go home. I miss my family, and over a year away from them is a long time. I’m excited to go back and race there with Conor and build our names on the big stage.
“My time in Tassie has been an adventure, I’ve grown as a driver, a horsewoman and a person,” Chibnall said.
“I want to thank Ben Yole for everything he’s done for me, I’ve grown so much from learning under him, his family took me in and I’ll forever be grateful,” she added.
Conor has three runners engaged at Sunday’s Launceston meeting including last start winner Joe Nien.
“He bounced back last week, and did it in good fashion, weather he does that this week we will wait and see, but hopefully he can put a couple of wins together, but I certainly never feel when you have got him (right) and I’m not sure anyone else does either,” said the trainer.
Conor has two runners engaged in the fifth race with Kuyomi, and recent stable addition Tactical Response.
Jordan will take the drive on Kuyomi, who was placed in last weeks Ulverstone Cup.
“She was really brave last start, and even the start before.
“She should get a good run there (from the pole), probably behind the leader, and hopefully she can get a gap there,” said Chibnal.
While Conor will take the drives on Tactical Response from barrier two.
“He has trialed good enough, his work at home has been pretty good.
Although I have had one drive on him at the trials and he missed the start by about 400 metres,” said Conor.
The 10-race Launceston card will be shown on TasracingTV and Sky Racing 1 from 17:04.
