Our Blair off to a slow start at world champs but watch him go close on Jagger
By Barry Lichter • 14 August 2023
Champion Kiwi driver Blair Orange lies in eighth place after the first round of the world driving championship at Victoria Park, Wolvega in the Netherlands.
But after a slow start with two fourths, a 10th and a disqualification, Orange salvaged some prime points with a second in the fifth race, leading until the last stride on Orlando Vici four-year-old Jagger.
Blair Orange is trying to become New Zealand’s seventh world driving champion.Orange is still well in contention with 15 races to go in Germany and Belgium, sitting on 27 points just two behind three drivers on 29 points.
Australian Pete McMullen, who won the opening race and Canadian Doug McNair, winner of the third and fifth heats, are tied for first on 49 points.
Gelsentrabpark in Gelsenkirchen, Germany will host the second leg on Tuesday.
On Wednesday the series moves to Belgium for the third leg at Hippodrome de Wallonie in Mons.
After a one-day break the 2023 champion will be crowned on Friday after the final races at Trabrennbahn Mariendorf in Berlin.
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Ray’s comments
Friday night at Auckland
Race 4: Tyson
6.59pm
“He was tough again in winning last week. He’s trained on well, is in good shape, and should be right in it.”
Race 4: Sugar Ray Lincoln
6.59pm
“He’s finally getting his act together - he’s gone three good races in a row - and seemingly turned the corner. We’ve had a lot of (vet) work done on him, his feet in particular, and it’s paid off. There’s not much between him and Tyson.”
Race 5: Rivergirl Bella
7.23pm
“She’ll need everything to go her way from the draw. But she’s got a bit of speed. She’s getting there. She wasn’t very strong before and wasn’t tracking too well, but she’s driving right now.”
Race 5: Lincoln Linda
7.23pm
“She’s had a few issues, mostly mental ones, and is still a bit of a handful. It wasn’t very pretty last week but we’re slowly getting her under control. The outside draw might actually help her.”
Race 5: Angelic Copy
7.23pm
“She needs only a half decent trip to feature. She got held up a little bit in the straight at a crucial time last week and that was that.”
Race 6: Prince Lincoln
7.49pm
“He’s drawn the best of ours in three. He got cheated for a run last week. It’s hard to know where he’d have finished without that.”
Race 6: Lincoln Lover
7.49pm
“Ferg reckoned if he’d been able to hold up in the trail last week he would have won. He was very bullish about how he’d gone. The draw’s no help but he can do a bit of work. He’s an honest little guy who saves his best for when the money’s up on racenight.”
Race 6: Johnny Lincoln
7.49pm
“He got a bit keen last week but he should be a lot better this time. He’s still learning and he’s a slow learner. When he does things correctly he’s a pretty nice horse. Hopefully he can get a suck into it from the second row draw.”
