Day Two of the World Driving Championship kicked off this morning in Caen, France with Canada's Trevor Henry getting his first top-three finish.
In the first race, David Butcher of New Zealand took the field gate to wire to capture his first win of the event. Jason Bartlett of the United States stormed home late to capture second. Enrico Bellei of Italy was third, while overall WDC leader Pierre Vercruysse of France was fourth.
Canada's Trevor Henry was on the outside for most of the 2,200 metre race with Voila Ecus and finished ninth.
"I was caught on the outside," said Henry. "Never was able to get him to the inside."
He quickly rebounded from that performance in the second race of the day. Guiding Urgence de Ginai, Henry finished second to Vercruysse, who notched his third win of the tournament with Union du Tay. Finishing third was Gerard Mayr with Utopie Nonantaise.
Henry's horse hadn't raced or qualified since last August.
"The trainer told me to leave, let her settle and race her the last 300 metres. I kept her along the rail, got shuffled a little but just got room at the top of the stretch. I followed the winner out. It's a long stretch and it gives you lots of time to make up ground."
Henry was off the board in the third and fourth legs, both won by Finland's Mika Forss.
In the third leg, Forss guidedTrésor de Quesny to victory. Eirik Hoitomt of Norway finished second, followed by New Zealand's Butcher. Forss then doubled up aboard Aya de Vandel in the final race of the day with Mayr finishing second and Hoitomt completing the top three.
Canada's driving rep notes two main differences between today's races and the first leg at Reims.
"The track today is a lot slower and a lot bigger than the track yesterday. These horses you can tell are a much better class of horse than the ones yesterday."
After two legs, the 2013 World Driving Championship point totals are as follows:
Pierre Vercruysse - France - 115
Björn Goop - Sweden - 75
Antonio Frontera Pocovi - Spain - 72
Eirik Hoitomt - Norway - 72
Mika Forss - Finland - 69
Enrico Bellei - Italy 66
Gerhard Mayr - Austria - 60
David Butcher - New Zealand - 50
Neil Day - Australia - 46
Jason Bartlett - U.S.A. - 46
Trevor Henry - Canada - 37
Rene Kjær - Denmark - 36