Racing: Agent and Denny draw well in Jewels

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Long-time favourites The Orange Agent and King Denny were the big winners in the draws for next Saturday's Harness Jewels.

And that should see both odds-on when the TAB's final field markets for the mega meeting at Ashburton open today.

The Orange Agent has drawn perfectly at barrier two in the 3-year-old fillies pace, her draw made even better by the fact arch rival Fight For Glory has drawn the second line and group one winners Supersonic Miss and Democrat Party have dreadful wide draws.

That suggests The Orange Agent will try for an all the way win as she did in the Northern Oaks and Nevele R Fillies Final and she looks about a $1.60 chance.

King Denny has the gate speed to use his ace draw in the 4-year-old trot so will dominate betting there, especially with Mum's Pride drawing wide.

Lancewood Lizzie was another winner in the draws, getting the ace for the 4-year-old Diamond while the two favourites Venus Serena and Willow have drawn the second line.

That will see Lancewood Lizzie being one of the biggest shorteners post-draw as she is likely to come in from $7 to around $4.

Her stablemate Sky Major faces a second-line draw as he attempts to win his third Jewels but that shouldn't bother his connections greatly as he won both his previous titles and the Messenger from the second line.

Among the favourites not to fare well were Dream About Me, High Gait and Speeding Spur.

The latter has drawn wide in the 3-year-old trot with plenty of speed inside him so could be in for a hard day while High Gait starts off the second line in the juvenile trot, although so too does arch rival Conon Bridge, whose trainer Paul Nairn has decided not to remove him from the unruly.

Dream About Me faces barrier eight in the juvenile Diamond but is still likely to be odds on to remain unbeaten.

One of the glamour races of the day, the 3-year-old Emerald, will be completely dominated by the Purdon-Rasmussen trio of Have Faith In Me (barrier three), Follow The Stars (four) and Hug The Wind (one).

The country's leading stable also have the 2-year-old male pace at their mercy, with Chase The Dream (barrier four), Lazarus (six) and Motu Premier (two). Many of the Jewels contenders head to the workouts at Ashburton today.