James MacDonald wins second WDC title

[Wandering Eyes]

By Dave Di Somma, Harness News Desk 

Canadian James MacDonald has today claimed his second World Driving Championship title, with Kiwi Blair Orange finishing fourth.

The 20th and final heat of the WDC was held as part of IRT New Zealand Trotting Cup day at Addington this afternoon.

With a 15 point lead going into today MacDonald could only be pipped for the title if he finished last and nearest challenger, Australian Gary Hall junior won.

As it turned out neither of those scenarios played out in the  Mitre 10 World Driving Championship Heat 20 (Mobile Trot) over 2600 metres.

Both finished down the field with MacDonald eighth with Alotoftrouble and Gary Hall junior was last with Peaknmonkey.

That was enough for MacDonald to clinch his second WDC title, adding to the one he won in Canada in 2017. He totaled 168 points to beat Hall by 17 (151).

In the final heat He Aint Fakin for Italian Giampaolo Minnucci was the hot favourite at $1.75. It was just the horse’s second start as a trotter for trainer Phil Williamson after excelling as a pacer across the Tasman.

And his performance was impressive.

He sat parked outside Donna’s Boy, driven by American Brett Beckwith, and still had too much in reserve to show he has a real future as a square-gaiter.

New Zealand’s Blair Orange had no luck with Yosemite, who broke in the running, and finished sixth. He finished the WDC with 136 points.

Final leaderboard (after 20 heats) : 

James MacDonald (Canada) 168
Gary Hall junior (Australia) 151
Jaap van Rijn (Netherlands) 141
Blair Orange (New Zealand) 136
Matts Djuse (Sweden) 132
Pierre Vercruysse (France) 120
Michael Nimczyk (Germany) 119
Brett Beckwith (USA) 115
Giampaolo Minnucci (Italy) 112
Sanntu Raitala (Finland) 104 

Ten drivers from all over the world have been involved in the WDC. It’s the first time New Zealand has been the sole host of the WDC with the heats being held at Kaikoura, Cambridge, Winton and Addington over the past nine days.

Jaap van Rijn (The Netherlands) had the most individual wins of the WDC with 4, ahead of James MacDonald (Canada) and Mats Djuse (Sweden) with 3, Gary Hall Junior (Australia), Blair Orange (New Zealand), Giampaolo Minnucci (Italy) and Pieree Vecruysse (France) all 2 and Brett Beckwith (USA), and Michael Nimczyk (Germany) one each.

To add to a great day for the land of the Maple Leaf, Canada was announced as the host of the next WDC in 2027.

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