Blair Orange warms up Magnus Primavera who gave him his sole placing on the night at Mons in Belgium.
No joy for Blair in Belgium but move by Aussie Pete McMullen gives him a Hail Mary show
By Barry Lichter • 17 August 2023
Kiwi rep Blair Orange had no luck on an action-packed third day of the world driving championship in Europe, slipping to eighth on the leaderboard.
It was slim pickings at Mons in Belgium where Orange had a fourth, two sixths and a disqualification before the final heat which saw two horses gallop in the score-up and United States rep Jordan Ross thrown from the sulky.
Ross, who had won the previous heat, was unhurt and quickly back to his feet but his horse Jakarta Ter Blekte ran several laps of the track before being caught.
Jakarta Ter Blekte was scratched from the rerun, won by popular local Hanna Huygens who reeled in runaway leader Pippa Ice and Finland’s Santtu Raitala in the final strides.
Class photo at Mons in Belgium.Orange salvaged some pride by finishing third on Primavera Magnus, his eight points taking him to 89 for the series.
Footage of the heat can be found on the following live stream link starting about 2:19.17 - https://www.youtube.com/live/4kBBfmjMaPA?feature=share
Dutch driver Rick Ebbinge virtually sewed up the championship by winning the third heat with an all-the-way demolition on Oasis, and will take a 33 point lead into the final round in Germany.
Meanwhile Australian Pete McMullen had another good night, a first, second and fourth elevating him to second place on 106 points, giving him a longshot chance of catching the defending champion.
Huygens sits third on 105 with Raitala fourth on 103 points.
The final five races in the 20-race series will be held at Trabrennbahn Mariendorf in Berlin on Friday.
Standings after three of the four rounds are:
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Ray’s comments
Friday night at Auckland
Race 5: Lincoln Lover
6.49pm
“You can’t fault what he’s done in his last four starts - he hasn’t missed a cheque. He’s raced at Auckland before as a two-year-old against good horses so it shouldn’t be too daunting for him. He’ll go an honest race, it’s just whether he’s good enough.”
Race 7: The Night Fox
7.57pm
Nathan Delany: “He had to trial on Tuesday after hitting the gate and breaking at Cambridge and I was happy with how he went. He ran Dear God to half a length in 2:38, and got home in 27.3. I’ll tell Harry to have one run at them and he should beat them for speed. Hopefully they run along a bit and he’ll sprint straight past them.”
Race 7: Lincoln Maree
7.57pm
“She lacks a bit of speed but she’s a rough chance.”
Race 8: Lincoln Linda
8.24pm
“It’s her first start for five months and she hasn’t trialled but she’s training well. She has plenty of ability and there’s nothing wonderful in the race. In the past she’s been her own worst enemy, a lunatic at times, but she seems more settled this time in. You could say I’m hopeful more than confident.”
Race 8: Rivergirl Bella
8.24pm
“She has a bit of speed. She hasn’t been strong but seems to have developed a bit more this time in and is training quite well. I don’t think there’s much between her and Lincoln Linda.”
