The New Zealand representative is currently halfway to fourth place in the WDC, following a win and two placings in Cambridge on Wednesday evening.
He is on 68 points, with Canadian James MacDonald leading the way with 98.
He also has 2999 wins and needs just one more to become the fourth member of the 3000 club, joining Tony Herlihy, Maurice McKendry and Ricky May.
The Dutch team seems to have plenty of chances on Friday.
In the four WDC heats he has three very favorite runners.
His rides in WDC heats 11-14 are:
Always a Threat ($2.40) in Heat 11 (6:21 p.m.)
Enable ($10) in Heat 12 (6:53 p.m.)
Big Couple ($1.75) Heat 13 (7:24 p.m.)
Sandfly Bay ($2.80) Heat 14 (7:54 p.m.)
At one point Orange paid $15 to win the WDC – he is now in $3.20.
The Dutch connection in Addington tonight
There will be double Dutch delight if the very Irish-sounding Just Ask Paddy can win in Addington tonight.
The Gold Ace gelding is at the start in Heat 13 of the Driving World Championships (7:24 p.m.).
Representing the Netherlands in the WDC, Jaap van Rijn will pilot the $9 fourth favorite in the Stevie and Maree Harcourts Hornby WDC preliminary round – not that the Dutch connection ends there.
Just Ask Paddy was bred by retired Marlborough vet David Sim and raced by him and his Dutch wife Anke.
“We have been married for 48 years,” says Dr. Sim, “and that is the first horse she has ridden – the first she has had a hand in.”
And it’s been a pretty successful collaboration so far. Just Ask Paddy has won three races from 27 starts, the latest coming on October 1 at Addington in an amateur drivers’ race.
“He certainly exceeded expectations,” says Sim.
Sim is a groom for Just Ask Paddy’s trainer Tony Thomas and does a lot of work with his horse.
“He’s having a great time with that horse,” says Thomas.
“And it’s great how that Dutch connection came about – it’s really just the luck of the draw.”
Van Rijn is aiming for his second victory this WDC. He was a big winner in 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 in Addington this afternoon, from 3.45pm.
The drivers will have an autograph session and there will also be a parade with the first race taking place at 4:55 p.m.
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
For full race entries, click here.
By means of Dave Di SommaHarness News Desk
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