Racing: Keeping seat warm

For the second time in a month, the high of group one glory could be tainted with regret for Blair Orange.

The Canterbury reinsman should partner Kotare Mach to what most expect to be an all-the-way win in the $200,000 Sires' Stakes Final at Addington tonight.

And then he will hand the reins over to his boss Mark Purdon, knowing he is unlikely to hold them in a race again.

Purdon will take over the driving on the potential superstar after tonight's race, meaning Orange misses not only the Harness Jewels in a fortnight but the abundant 3-year-old riches next season.

That mirrors Orange's one-off drive on Auckland Reactor in the Woodlands Taylor Mile, after which Purdon returned to the sulky.

"It is a real shame to lose the drive but the owner wants Mark to drive him and if I was Mark I wouldn't say no either," said Orange.

"But he could be something special. I think he is potentially the best 2-year-old I have driven."

That is a telling statement from Orange, who has won our biggest 2-year-old races.

"I have been lucky to drive some good ones but this guy has speed and stamina. He just jogged 2:21 [for 1950m] last start and not many do that."

Kotare Mach looks set to try for that all-the-way win from the ace, with only Five Star Anvil appearing to have the speed to trouble him early.

"My horse has real gate speed and I think he is the best horse in the race, so we will be staying in front."

Five Star Anvil was convincing enough in the Sales Series Pace last Saturday to suggest he can run in the money again but better bets may be Smiling Shard, Courage To Rule and Stormy Sirocco.

The latter has been hugely impressive in three starts and, like Kotare Mach, has been set for this race as he is ineligible for the Sales Series.

But he has drawn awkwardly on the second line, from where driver Gene Robb has to decide whether to move to the markers and drive for luck or put his horse in the race.

If he chooses to go to the inside, Stormy Sirocco looks a good place bet but may relinquish his winning chance.

Courage To Rule was a massive third in the Sales Series Pace and is an obvious place hope, along with Smiling Shard while Metallica is drawn to trail the favourite so could fill out the skinny end of the trifecta if the big guns have to work too hard.

While Orange could hardly be more confident heading into the Sires' Final, he is far more cautious about Joyfuljoy in tonight's other group one, the $150,000 New Zealand Oaks.

Joyfuljoy was not only outstayed by Lauraella in the Nevele R Fillies Final last Saturday but has drawn the inside of the second line tonight.

"That will make it tough and I can't see her beating Lauraella the way she won last week," said Orange.

Even from her second-line draw, Lauraella will start a hot favourite tonight over a distance she will relish.