Racing: Orange may be boss tonight

Reinsman Blair Orange has his sights set on the biggest name in harness racing tonight - his boss.

Orange works for champion Canterbury trainer Mark Purdon, who will unleash a powerful 13-strong team on the opening night of Auckland Cup Week at Alexandra Park tonight.

Purdon could rate himself a chance of training the winner of at least six races. After all, he trained seven winners at the last premier meeting at Alexandra Park on December 31.

However, it could be Orange who stars as the stable driver tonight, with no room for helping each other out with such big money on the line.

"I work for Mark but once we are on the track I'll be driving for myself and the owners of the horses I'm involved with," said Orange. "So that is all I can really worry about, not how the rest of the team is going."

Orange is on the pre-post favourite for the $150,000 Pascoes Northern Oaks in Lancome and he says barrier one will suit the speedster.

"She has the gate speed to use the draw and then I have options to stay in front or hand up," said Orange.

"When she won two starts ago she went a great time and did it easy, so I think the 2700m won't bother her."

Like anybody who saw Secret Potion down De Lovely last Friday night, Orange was impressed, while he also believes Meredith Maguire will be suited by the 2700m, so the stable has a huge hand in the Oaks.

Orange's confidence levels are even higher with Russley Rascal in the first prelude to next Friday's Woodlands Northern Derby.

While the inexperienced pacer is not at his best in front, Orange says that is where he will be heading after drawing better than key rivals Choise Achiever and Courage To Rule.

"I think it is a race he can win and Mark will have him ready."

Orange partners Highview Tommy in the New Zealand Herald Free-For-All, where he has the advantage of the draw over many of his fellow Auckland Cup contenders.

"He has to be a good show but the one warning I would give punters is that he is a better horse with a run under his belt. Still, with the cup not till next week a lot of them will be in the same boat."

While Purdon-trained trotters Pocaro (race three) and I Can Doosit (race 10) have great chances, one of the most confusing races for the stable and punters is the juvenile pace.

Just a few weeks ago Purdon's then unbeaten colt Major Mark was rated clearly the best in the country but he was a battling third at Ashburton last start, with unheralded stablemate Ohoka's Bondy outstaying him.

"I was surprised we could beat him on that occasion and while I think Major Mark will improve, I think the 2-year-old ranks are pretty open at the moment," said Orange.

Orange will be worth a look when the odds for the driver's challenge come out at 3pm today.

OAKS NIGHT
* The $150,000 Pascoes Northern Oaks is the classic event on the opening night of Auckland Cup Week at Alexandra Park.
* Tonight's meeting also hosts two Woodlands Northern Derby preludes.
* Mark Purdon and stable driver Blair Orange have a huge hand in tonight's meeting.
* The NZ Herald Free-For-All is the final lead up to next Friday's Auckland Cup.