By Dave Di Somma, Harness News Desk
Blair Orange is very much the driver to watch as the World Driving Championship heads to Addington for the first time tonight.
The New Zealand rep is currently in fourth place in the WDC at the halfway stage after having a win and two placings at Cambridge on Wednesday night.
He is on 68 points, with Canada’s James MacDonald leading the way on 98.
He is also on 2999 career wins, needing just one more to become the fourth member of the 3000 club, joining Tony Herlihy, Maurice McKendry and Ricky May.
On Friday Orange looks to have plenty of chances.
In the four WDC heats he has three three highly-favoured runners.
His drives in WDC heats 11-14 are :
Always A Menace ($2.40) in Heat 11 (6.21pm)
Switch On ($10) in Heat 12 (6.53pm)
Major Torque ($1.75) Heat 13 (7.24pm)
Sandfly Bay ($2.80) Heat 14 (7.54pm)
At one stage Orange was paying $15 to win the WDC – he is now into $3.20.
The Dutch connection at Addington tonight
There’ll be dual Dutch delight if the very Irish-sounding Just Ask Paddy can win at Addington tonight.
The Gold Ace gelding lines up in Heat 13 of the World Driving Championship (7.24pm).
Representing the Netherlands in the WDC Jaap van Rijn will drive the $9 fourth favourite in the Stevie and Maree Harcourts Hornby WDC heat – not that the Dutch connection ends there.
Just Ask Paddy was bred by retired Marlborough-based vet David Sim and is raced by him and his Dutch wife Anke.
“We’ve been married 48 years,” says Dr Sim, “and that is the first horse she’s been in – the first one she’s had a share in.”
And it’s been a pretty successful partnership so far. Just Ask Paddy has won three races from 27 starts, the latest of them at Addington on October 1 in an amateur drivers’ race.
“He’s certainly exceeded expectations,” says Sim.
Sim is a stablehand for Just Ask Paddy’s trainer Tony Thomas and does a lot of work with his horse.
“He’s having a ball with that horse,” says Thomas.
“And it’s great how that Dutch connection has come about – it’s just the luck of the draw really.”
Van Rijn is seeking his second win this WDC. He was a big winner at Kaikoura when It’s Tough dominated his heat on Monday.
WDC Meet and Greet
There will also be a Meet and Greet with the WDC drivers at Addington this afternoon, starting a 3.45pm.
The drivers will do a signing session and there will also be a parade with the first race going at 4.55pm.
WDC Leaderboard (after 10 heats) :
James MacDonald (Canada) 98
Gary Hall Junior (Australia) 85
Michael Nimczyk (Germany) 69
Blair Orange (New Zealand) 68
Santtu Raitala (Finland) 62
Mats Djuse (Sweden) 57
Giampaolo Minnucci (Italy) 54
Pierre Vercruysse (France) 51
Jaap van Rijn (Netherlands) 51
Brett Beckwith (USA) 46