The Flying Dutchman

Netherlands harness racing driver Jaap van Rijn made every post a winner at Winton today, taking out three of the four heats of the World Drivers Championships.

He got the party started when he led and won with the Matt Brinsdon trained Sheeza Vinny (Vincent) in the Vetsouth Equine WDC25 Heat 16.

SHEEZA VINNY REPLAY

“He (Matt Brinsdon) told me to just leave (the gate) and let one go. On the first turn I was thinking about letting one pass but she was feeling very strong and I think that I go for my own opportunity. She finished the job,” van Rijn said.

Sheeza Vinny finished with a neck to spare from Bombay Glacier and driver Brett Beckwith.

“Here with the open stretch (straight) you’re always scared someone will be flying on the inside. There was one coming, but we were on point.”

Pacers are not raced in the Netherlands so this year’s WDC has offered Jaap a new experience.

“It was the first time here for me to drive in a race with a pacer. That’s a nice experience and it’s a little bit different. They told me before if you can drive a trotter, you can drive a pacer. For me to drive a pacer is a nice experience. I feel happy with it.”

Driving on a 1500 metre track was also new to the Dutchman.

“That was a nice experience. Our tracks are 800, 1000 or 1200 metres. The mile is just one round, so you need to give your horse a shot at the start and you have to find a good position. When you are three wide you are covering a lot more extra distance.”

Van Rijn says he’s really enjoying his visit to New Zealand.

“It’s very nice, nice culture, nice people and everyone is very friendly. We are from ten different countries but after some days (racing together) we are very collective together.”

With just one heat to go, Cup Day at Addington, James McDonald (USA) with 164 points still leads the WDC, from Gary Hall jnr on 149 and Jaap van Rijn third on 140 points.

The result extends the hot form of Gore trainer Matt Brinsdon who also provided Blair Orange with his 3000^th winner on Friday night at Addington.

“It comes like that sometimes – you can’t do anything wrong. You take it when it’s there,” he said.

The win by Sheeza Vinny was her third in thirty nine starts.

“She’s been coming out the gate a whole lot better this time round. She’s looking super and working strong. She had a good gallop on Friday and she was very very well.”

Two winners at two different venues within three days driven by world class drivers is certainly a rarity and a great achievement.

“Vinny will stay down here and potter around in the rating races. I’ll have a yarn to Johnny (John Dunn) during the week and see what we do with Menace.”   

Jaap van Rijn’s other wins came with the Matty Williamson trained Jordan Anne (Pegasus Spur) in the SBSR/Diamond Creek Farm WDC25, Heat 18 and Mouton Cadet (Sir Lincoln) trained by Bruce Negus in the Ultra-Scan Western Southland WDC25, Heat 19.

For complete race results, click here.

by Bruce Stewart, for Harnesslink