Rick Ebbinge with his winning trophy at Berlin today.
No luck for Blair as Dutch champion Ebbinge staves off late charge by Canadian
By Barry Lichter • 19 August 2023
Dutch driver Rick Ebbinge has won his second world driving championship, surviving a spectacular late charge by Canadian Doug McNair on the final day at Trabrennbahn Mariendorf in Berlin.
But the day again proved fruitless for Kiwi rep Blair Orange, who had a fifth, two eighths, a ninth and a scratching, finishing in eighth place.
McNair started the day on 93 points, 46 points behind defending champion Rick Ebbinge (139). But with two wins, a second and a third in the first four races he charged into second place, just 11 points behind the Dutch driver.
His horse Spy Lord failed to figure in the final race, however, finishing eighth and leaving Ebbinge a winner by 13 points on 163.
Orange’s best placing on the final day was on Heartbeat who was reeled in down the home stretch after sitting parked.Belgium rep Hannah Huygens had another solid day, with a win and second to maintain her position on the points table, finishing third, also on 150 points.
Orange was up against it from the start of the day when his best chance, Dream Fashion, drawn the pole and the fastest runner in the fourth heat, was scratched, giving him the mandatory four points.
His other four drives drew two on the second row, five, six and seven, putting him at a disadvantage before he even stepped into the cart.
His first drive, Early Love, never cleared the rear from the second row and passed only a few tired runners in the stretch.
Orange was left parked out on Heartbeat in the second race and, while still there on the home turn, was crunched late into fifth.
The third race saw Orange and Easton Av again trapped in the death seat from the six alley. The horse started trotting roughly before the turn and dropped out to eighth.
Orange gave Crazy Boy a perfect trip in the final heat, one out three back, then one-one, but when he pulled three wide turning in, there was nobody home.
His final day’s driving was a reflection on the entire series which saw him drawn many lesser fancies and land just one winner and three other podium finishes in the 20 race series.
Queensland driver Pete McMullen, in second place after the first three rounds, had a bleak final day, with a sixth, eighth, and third before being disqualified in the fourth race, essentially putting an end to his hopes. His final fifth placing left him in sixth position.
Ebbinge, who has been driving for 15 years and also trains a team of 30 horses in Holland, did not feature on the final day with a fourth, two sixths and two sevenths, but took an unassailable lead after scoring three wins and two seconds in the second round.
While the Netherlands took its second title, New Zealand still remains the most successful country in the 30 runnings of the championships, with six wins - Kevin Holmes (1978), Robert Cameron (1983), Tony Herlihy (1985), Maurice McKendry (1991), Mark Jones (2003) and Dexter Dunn (2015) - though none of those wins have been recorded in Europe.
Canada is next best with five, Norway with four and the United States with three.
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Ray’s comments
Friday night at Auckland
Race 1: Debbie Lincoln
5.26pm
“She had to sit parked most of the way last time but still went well, and that’s what she does. She’s proven to be a very promising filly and, while it’s hard these days to win without a good trip, it’s an even field and she’s a good chance again.”
Race 2: Lincoln Lou
5.55pm
“He probably cost himself a win last week by going roughly, but he can do that. If he’d got Frisco Bay’s trip he would have won with his closing quarters of 56 and 27 the fastest in the race. He’s just got to do things right to be the one to beat, even from the bad draw, as it’s an easier field.”
Race 5: Frisco Bay
7.30pm
“He’s up in grade a bit but I don’t think there’s anything between them. He’s just got to get the right run and, with his speed, he’ll be right in it.”
Race 6: Kevin Kline
7.59pm
“He’s no superstar but he’s very honest and he’s always a place chance as he’s a tough bugger, he sat parked last week.”
Race 6: Colonel Lincoln
7.59pm
“With a similar run to last week, he’d be right in it. He clocked 55.8 and 27.7, doing his best work at the finish. He hasn’t gone a bad race since he’s come back.”
Race 8: Prince Lincoln
8.59pm
“I wasn’t expecting him to do anything on debut as he’s a green, young horse. But he went very well so he’s obviously lifted his game for the occasion. And he’s trained on even better so the experience has enhanced him. From the inside he has to be a good chance.”
Race 8: Rivergirl Bella
8.59pm
“She’s definitely a better animal left-handed but she was passable right-handed and should go better this time. She’s got some speed.”
Race 8: Lincoln Downs
8.59pm
“She’s a nice filly but is behind the others. I don’t expect her to beat anything but she needs the experience.”
Race 8: Lincoln Linda
8.59pm
“There won’t be any shadows for her to jump this time so she has to be a serious chance. She’d been dominant at the workouts and trials before her debut but didn’t get the chance to show her true worth.”
Race 8: Lincoln Lover
8.59pm
“Fergie was quite impressed with him on debut and requested the drive again. He finished on strongly up the lane and should go well again. He just needs some luck from the outside of the gate.”
Mark Dux’s comments
Saturday night at Albion Park
Race 3: Argyle
9.04pm NZ time
“I thought his last two starts have been terrific. There’s no doubt this race is tougher, and he has trickier draw, but I was talking to Angus last night and he was quite upbeat about his chances. He said the horse gave him a good feel when he sat parked two starts back and he picked him too (in the draft). But it won’t be easy. There could be a bit of pressure early. I think he’ll come out and see what unfolds and, if there is too much pressure, he’ll drive him quietly.”
Ray’s comments
Sunday at Manawatu
Race 1: Onyx Shard
5.29pm
“You can put a line through her last run at Cambridge when she pulled up showing signs of a respiratory infection. She had a couple of weeks off after that and, while she hasn’t trialled since, she’s been training down nicely. She’s a nice filly and from the good draw should really win.”
Race 3: Lincoln La Moose
6.19pm
“He wasn’t far away in the amateur race at Auckland last time despite jumping a shadow early and galloping. This is a decent drop in class for him and he should be very competitive.
