The secret blend

By Darren Clayton

In 2025, no team was more confident following the completion of the Ladbrokes Ultimate Driver draft that they had the recipe for success to claim the inaugural title.

Some 48 hours later, by the end of the first night, it appeared that the destiny of the First Over Crush Syndicate had been sealed and that the chance of victory had evaporated.

After the completion of all 20 races the team had returned one win, but while beaten, they were not defeated and vowed to return in 2026.

Return they have, with most of the team back on board, along with some new faces for a shot at UDC glory.

New driver. New team name. Can the fortunes be reversed?

The Herb Factor line up in 2026, with syndicate manager Ryan Spice bringing the band back together, but as the name would suggest, their title aspirations will fall onto the shoulders of James Herbertson.

“I spoke with James and after he was able to witness both nights last year, it did not really take much negotiating to get him on board for this year,” Spice said.

“It was a more than reasonable offer which was quickly agreed to by us both.”

Australia’s leading driver in 2025, Herbie was also the reserve driver for the 2025 UDC series and was able to view all the action up close, without the stress of donning the silks.

Despite a year that presented personal loss, there was success throughout the year on the track, claiming an historic double, annexing the Australasian Young Drivers Championship and the Australian Driving Championships.

At just 25 years of age, it was the second ADC title for Herbertson with success in Hobart complementing his 2022 title secured in Adelaide.

A second successive Australian Drivers Premiership was also secured with 349 wins for the year, despite an overseas sabbatical in the middle of the year where he tasted success at Scioto Downs and the Meadowlands in North America.

With over 1800 career winners, and eight Group 1 triumphs, the strike rate that Herbie is producing his wins suggest he will reach 2000 by the end of the season.

A third successive Australian premiership potentially beckons, Herbertson already boasting a 12-win lead with 39 winners on the board by February 10.

Spice is hoping that the Herbie magic can continue when he takes to the track for The Herb Factor on February 20 and 21.

Having experienced the draft from series one, draft day will see Spice take the same approach as he carries the weight of expectation in making the right selections for The Herb Factor.

“I will analyse the races, do my ratings and I will back my judgment, it will pretty much be aligned with what we did last year,” he said

“Reflecting back on our results, we can make what we think are the best picks and they can be driven as well as they can be driven, it just has to come together with the horses performing.”

On track success is the ultimate goal, however the social aspect of the week is almost as vital, with a private syndicate lunch already booked for Thursday to complement the official championship events.

Friendly banter and jibes will also be dished up.

“If we beat only one syndicate home, it has to be Gloucester Park Gurus.

“I cannot go another 12 months listening to them and the rubbish they talk about 2025.”

With a 33-syndicate member cheer squad set to descend on The Creek, the numbers are a mix of those booked by James and those booked by Ryan.

Has the secret blend of Herb’s and Spice’s been unlocked for UDC glory?