Racing: Purdon holds powerful hand

Secret Potion is seeking her third group one win in the NZ Oaks tonight. Photo / Brett Phibbs

A change of gear and a change of attitude give Blair Orange a shot at a group one double at Addington tonight.

Orange has the advantage of two dream draws with Lancome in the $125,000 New Zealand Oaks and Le Sol in the $200,000 Sires' Stakes Final tonight, giving them both chances to improve on their feature-race placings last Saturday.

On that occasion, Le Sol came from a second-line draw to finish second to Thumpem in the Sales Series Pace, while Lancome closed strongly late for third behind Secret Potion in the Nevele R Final.

While all the main players from those races back up tonight it is Orange who finds himself sitting in the box seat.

"I thought Lancome could have pushed Secret Potion close last week had we got clear earlier," said Orange, stable second string driver for Mark Purdon.

"I think this week from barrier two I have to put her in the race and not be scared to use her and make them run me down."

That is where the change of attitude comes in as Orange admits until recently he rated Lancome better when driven sit-sprint.

"But one night Tony [Herlihy] drove her at Alexandra Park and she produced a huge staying effort so I would be happy enough to use her this week."

Orange believes stablemate Secret Potion may have the best all-round game in the fillies' ranks and that makes her the one to beat tonight.

The Northern Oaks winner does look a wonderful stayer and gets the option of settling off the speed early before working into the race so deserves to start favourite.

She also has the advantage of both Meredith Maguire and Lancome, who are likely to be handy, being her stablemates so they may be more open to letting Secret Potion work to the lead with a lap to run, a scenario which unfolded when she won the Oaks at Alexandra Park.

Orange is hoping a change of gear may aid Le Sol, who has been the big improver in a stuttering juvenile crop.

While stablemate Major Mark was until last Saturday the glamour colt of the crop, Le Sol has been on a big learning curve since joining Purdon's stable six weeks ago.

His next lesson comes tonight with the addition of winkers, which Orange hopes will sharpen Le Sol mentally.

"He is actually a very good follower so I am happy to trail or even be three deep from barrier one and then just hope they go hard.

"But the winkers should keep his mind on the job.

"I thought the way The Muskeg Express went before he galloped last Saturday he would get a lot of respect this week and he might end up in front, with Thumpem on his back and us three deep.

"Then if they go hard I think we have a shot at them because this horse can follow any speed."

Orange was as flummoxed as anybody by the failure of Major Mark last Saturday, when the hot favourite lacked real home straight dash, running fourth in the Sales Series Pace.

"The way he worked last Thursday I thought they wouldn't beat him so we really don't know what was up with him.

"He is very good at his best and the one to beat again but him getting beaten last week might have opened this crop right up."

The Muskeg Express threw away victory last Saturday by galloping for no reason at the 100m mark and if he behaves he will be the one to beat, even though he has rarely been tested off the gate so it is a mystery whether he can take advantage of barrier three.

NZ OAKS NIGHT

*Addington hosts two group one races tonight.

*Reinsman Blair Orange has winning chances well drawn in both.

*Secret Potion and the luckless De Lovely look the dangers to Lancome in the NZ Oaks.

*The Muskeg Express has emerged as the horse to beat in the $200,000 Sires' Stakes.