Barriers favour Aussie star

AUSTRALIA’S Shane Graham has a prime opportunity to kick-start the World Driving Championship on a successful note.

The series begins at Century Downs in Balzac, Canada on Saturday, with five heats to be conducted throughout the afternoon.

Eleven star drivers from around the globe will be in the thick of the action, with competitors earning points based on their finishing position as they chase the title of World Driving Champion.

Graham’s opening drive – Drawing Dead – which doesn’t sound promising, has drawn ideally in the pole.

Drawing Dead is listed as a $3 equal favourite.

Graham will then combine with 7-2 second elect, Mystery Mania which will begin from barrier two in the following heat.

Pinkmakesboyswink is Graham’s third drive, with the pacer midfield in the draw and betting.

The ‘Aussie Ace’ then faces a tough task with Outlawintriguedbyu, which will come from gate 10, while Graham’s final drive of the day – Chief Saratoga – has also drawn wide in nine.

World Driving Championship heats:

World Driving Championship – Race 1 (Century Downs – Race 4)

Purse: $5,400 – 1-1/16 miles (nine on gate, two trailers)

(Post – Horse – Driver – Country)

1. Drawing Dead – Shane Graham (Australia)
2. Tigra Seelster – Eirik Hoitomt (Norway)
3. Dream N Of Mona – James MacDonald (Canada)
4. Freesia – Dexter Dunn (Defending Champion / New Zealand)
5. Viola – Mark Purdon (New Zealand)
6. Run And Tell – Gerhard Mayr (Austria)
7. Sacred Valley – Noel Baldacchino (Malta)
8. Whitehouse Secret – Mika Forss (Finland)
9. Janet Rose – Bjorn Goop (Sweden)
10. Ashlynn Grace – Marcus Miller (USA)
11. Triple Action – Rik Depuydt (Belgium)

World Driving Championship – Race 2  (Century Downs – Race 5)

Purse: $9,200 – 1-1/16 miles (nine on gate, two trailers)

(Post – Horse – Driver – Country)

1. Emmas Big Girl – Bjorn Goop (Sweden)
2. Mystery Mania – Shane Graham (Australia)
3. You Name It – Eirik Hoitomt (Norway)
4. Brighten Your Life – Mika Forss (Finland)
5. Big Shir – Rik Depuydt (Belgium)
6. Moon Struct – Marcus Miller (USA)
7. Im Gracies Wigwam – Mark Purdon (New Zealand)
8. Lucky Lucka – James MacDonald (Canada)
9. Lissoy – Dexter Dunn (Defending Champion / New Zealand)
10. Wild Chic – Noel Baldacchino (Malta)
11. Remember Terror – Gerhard Mayr (Austria)

World Driving Championship – Race 3 (Century Downs – Race 6)

Purse: $6,500 – 1-1/16 miles (nine on gate, two trailers)

(Post – Horse – Driver – Country)

1. Debonator – Eirik Hoitomt (Norway)
2. Exclusive – James MacDonald (Canada)
3. Crack The Cognac – Noel Baldacchino (Malta)
4. Kavola – Marcus Miller (USA)
5. Pinkmakesboyswink – Shane Graham (Australia)
6. Miss Bojangles – Bjorn Goop (Sweden)
7. Mods Mystery – Gerhard Mayr (Austria)
8. Alfa Bagel Hanover – Rik Depuydt (Belgium)
9. Rain Delay – Mika Forss (Finland)
10. Wazzup Buttercup – Mark Purdon (New Zealand)
11. Astrid The Axe – Dexter Dunn (Defending Champion / New Zealand)

World Driving Championship – Race 4 (Century Downs – Race 7)

Purse: $6,100 – 1-1/16 miles (nine on gate, two trailers)

(Post – Horse – Driver – Country)

1. Test Pattern – Rik Depuydt (Belgium)
2. Is Santa Real – Gerhard Mayr (Austria)
3. Sufferin Succotash – Mark Purdon (New Zealand)
4. Starry Eyes – Noel Baldacchino (Malta)
5. Orangevale Gazette – Marcus Miller (USA)
6. Blue Star Eclipse – James MacDonald (Canada)
7. Make Some Smiles – Dexter Dunn (Defending Champion / New Zealand)
8. Newport Min – Bjorn Goop (Sweden)
9. Barbarela Rose – Eirik Hoitomt (Norway)
10. Outlawintriguedbyu – Shane Graham (Australia)
11. Wild Flight – Mika Forss (Finland)

World Driving Championship – Race 5 (Century Downs – Race 8)

Purse: $6,500 – 1-1/16 miles (nine on gate, two trailers)

(Post – Horse – Driver – Country)

1. Pocket Novel – Dexter Dunn (Defending Champion / New Zealand)
   2. Coliseum Hanover – Rik Depuydt (Belgium)
2. Vow To Win – Mika Forss (Finland)
3. Sin Machqueen – Gerhard Mayr (Austria)
4. Big Zeus – Eirik Hoitomt (Norway)
5. Charge And Go – Mark Purdon (New Zealand)
6. Gray Zee – Marcus Miller (USA)
7. Amysterytome – Noel Baldacchino (Malta)
8. Chief Saratoga – Shane Graham (Australia)
9. Cenalta Eclipse – Bjorn Goop (Sweden)
10. Barossa Blue Genes – James MacDonald (Canada)