Europe has flexed its muscle on day two of the World Driving Championship in Kaikoura.
Firstly it was Jaap van Rijn from the Netherlands who took out Heat 4 and then it was Germany’s Michael Nimczyk who prevailed in the second and final heat of the day with the Matt Purvis-trained Flying Bird.
Their victories completed a hat-trick for the Europeans, following Italian Giampaolo Minnucci’s win in the third heat yesterday.
The opening two heats were taken out by Australia’s Gary Hall Junior.
In today’s heats It’s Tough produced a powerhouse performance to run away from his opposition for van Rijn. It was the Robert and Jenna Dunn-trained four-year-old’s fifth win in his last six starts.
Flying Bird was also tough in her run. She got to the front and then held on for a gritty win as Major Happy and Miki’s Courage charged late.
New Zealand’s representative Blair Orange is currently ninth on 22 points, 32 behind Hall, after finishing seventh with Classie Linc in the opening heat today, and then last with Gem N Em.
The leaderboard (after five heats) is :
Gary Hall Jnr (Australia) 54
James MacDonald (Canada) 41
Giampaolo Minnucci (Italy) 37
Michael Nimczyk (Germany) 33
Pierre Vercruysse (France) 32
Santtu Raitala (Finland) 28
Brett Beckwith (USA) 28
Jaap van Rijn (Netherlands) 25
Blair Orange (New Zealand) 22
Mats Djuse (Sweden) 17
The WDC now heads to Cambridge for a further five heats on Wednesday.
Overall there will be 20 heats with a world champion being crowned on IRT New Zealand Trotting Cup day at Addington on Tuesday, November 11.
