He said if the premiership race is close later in the season he will be pushing hard to snare his first title.
"I'm getting a lot of support from the whole South Island, but when it comes to the back end of the season and if it's going to help [flying to northern meetings] we'll have a look at that. I'd love to win a premiership.
"But we'll just play that by ear and see how things pan out.
"I'm sure Dexter will come back. It's a good rivalry for the sport but you are only as good as the stock you sit behind."
Orange confirmed that last season's Invercargill Cup winner Classie Brigade [11 wins], trained by Nigel McGrath, would be his number one choice as a New Zealand Cup drive on November 14.
"He had a great four-year-old season and should come back better this year."
McGrath trains maiden pacing mare Turkish Trousers in the second leg of the $25,000 Pick6 at Rangiora, and she is strongly favoured after a fighting fresh-up third on the track on August 13.
"This is a winnable race for her," said Orange.
"She had every show first-up and probably should have run second, but she'll win a race soon. She should improve on her first run."
He said the Andrew Stuart-trained Chaaat had trialled well before a solid first-up fifth from well back on the turn at Addington on September 1 and looked a good chance on his home track.
"Chaaat went pretty good first-up and again is in a winnable race."
But Orange believes that the McGrath-trained Goodlookin Chick could be his best drive in the last from her two draw.
"Personally, I think she's my best one. She's always been a handy horse.
"In her first-up run in the boys' race [ninth, never clear] she was pretty unlucky and last start [last] there must have been something wrong with her. I think she'll give them a fright."
Dunn also has three drives with the best probably The Kaik (R6), who has been racing without much luck lately.
- NZ Harness News
