Racing: Orange hoping one cup victory leads to another

By MICHAEL GUERIN

Blair Orange will try to use one cup to sneak into another when he takes the reins behind Harnetts Creek at Kaikoura today.

The Canterbury reinsman will partner the locally bred pacer in today's $50,000 Kaikoura Cup but he is thinking about more than just the winning stake because victory could give Orange a shot at New Zealand Cup glory in eight days.

Orange had been the regular driver of Harnetts Creek until the Ashburton Flying Stakes last week when he was committed to Light And Sound, who is trained by his boss, Mark Purdon. Light And Sound disappointed at Ashburton while Harnetts Creek produced one of the runs of the race for fourth, leaving Orange wishing he could retain the Harnetts Creek drive for the New Zealand Cup.

That moved a step closer to reality when Purdon withdrew Light And Sound from the New Zealand Cup yesterday, leaving Orange without a drive, and admits he would love to get back on Harnetts Creek.

Winning today would be the best way to achieve that.

"This would be a great race to win but I'd also love to be on this horse for the New Zealand Cup because he will be competitive there. At the moment I think David Butt is in line for the New Zealand Cup drive but if I win this race maybe I can change their minds."

And Orange says all he needs to achieve victory today is a fast beginning.

Kaikoura is New Zealand's flattest harness racing track, making it very hard for horses who get back in the field to make ground, particularly in a race of this quality.

"If he can step and lead he will take a whole lot of beating because I would stretch them out early and then try and outkick them late.

"So the start is crucial for us.

"On this track the difference between first out and third out is huge in the end."

If he does lead Harnetts Creek's reputation as a stayer who can pace very quick sectionals would be enough to get him most of the way to the winner's circle.

"But if we can't lead then we are in trouble because I don't think a horse like him would like being parked on this track."

The conditions of today's race should also suit northerners Miracle Man and, to a lesser extent, Maheer Lord.

Miracle Man has been solid rather than exceptional this campaign but looks ideally suited to today's step-and-run contest while Maheer Lord is back to his peak and only needs a safe beginning to be the hardest to beat.

If this race was being run on any other track then backmarker Mister D G would be the favourite.

But his 20m handicap will seem a long way unless he can make a flyer.

"I'll take him to the outside of the track and try and get out of the traffic but I don't think it is a good race for him," said his driver Anthony Butt.

"I'd love to win it but I won't be sending him on a suicide mission. I'll most likely be looking for a cart into the race."

Jack Cade is another winning chance but is still a few runs away from peak fitness so will need plenty of luck while Jagged Acount and Eagles Together are at least trifecta hopes.