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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Little Missy Lincoln can stand up for herself in Young Guns fillies’ heat on Friday night
Our runners this week: How our trainers rate them
Nathan’s comments
Thursday night at Cambridge
Race 1: The Night Fox
5.44pm
“From a good front line draw Harry can run off the gate and find the front. He’s shown he’s got the speed to get there. And if he can go 2:42 again, or quicker, I thought he’d be a very good winning chance. It’s an easier field than the one he beat last time. He’s trained well this week.”
Race 2: Rivergirl Bella
6.09pm
“She goes down to Cambridge for the first time so it’s a big drop in class. She also goes a lot better left-handed so I thought from the good draw she could run top three.”
Race 3: Lincoln Maree
6.34pm
“She paced a 1:56.7 mile in beating the amateurs last start but it looks like she’ll need a bit of luck from the draw this time. The two inside her like to lead so she could end up three fence or outside them. I’ll leave it up to Harry to get the right trip.”
Race 3: Lincoln Lover
6.34pm
“He’s a place chance. He likes bowling along but from five it’s hard to say where he’ll end up. He’s very consistent and he paced 2:42.3 last time so I can absolutely see him in the money.”
Race 6: Lincoln Linda
8.04pm
“She was in a very strong R40 to R48 race last time at Auckland against horses like Alecto, All Of Me and Cyclone Rebel, and she clocked 2:41.1, so back to Cambridge where she won her first race, and a much easier R38 to R40 field, she’s got to be a good winning chance. She’s best in front if Fergie can get there.”
Ray’s comments
Friday night at Auckland
Race 1: Leo Lincoln
4.42pm
“I’m not holding my breath with him. We won’t count that last run, when the leader went ballistic and he couldn’t get into the race, but he’s not well placed here.”
Race 4: Spiritual Bliss
6.09pm
“She’s racing really well and this looks a bit easier than last time when she was trapped in the breeze in a strong field. I can’t see how she won’t be right in the fight.”
Race 7: Missy Lincoln
7.34pm
“I didn’t know what to expect on debut but she was very brave. I’m picking she’ll go well again but she’ll need a bit of luck - drawn the second line we’re at the mercy of others. We’ll poke her out and see. At least she won’t get parked this time.”
Race 10: Lincoln Wave
9.07pm
“We’re racing the best horses now but he’ll definitely go better than last time. Tony (Herlihy) said he felt super across the top but once in the straight he flattened out, which I half expected. I had him scoped afterwards just to make sure he was all right but he was short of a run, that’s all.”
Race 10: Johnny Lincoln
9.07pm
“He went super when third last week and Fergie said just wait ’til he gets over 2700 metres, he’ll be a monster. He’s turned into a proper racehorse. From four there’ll be a bit of urgency early and hopefully he can get a suck along and get some of it.”
