Exceptional filly The Orange Agent has been handed the toughest assignment of her career in the New Zealand Oaks on Friday.
The northerner faces beginning from barrier nine, the outside of the front line, in a hot field, which could see her starting close to $2.50 for the Addington classic.
The Orange Agent has been on a winning rampage, including an effortless Northern Oaks win three starts ago while she led throughout in national record time to win the Nevele R Fillies Final last Saturday.
However, few fillies win the NZ Oaks from barrier nine and she now looks certain to settle closer to last than first in the 2600m mobile.
While she has come up with the worst draw, NSW Oaks winner Fight For Glory is not much better off as she has drawn the inside of the second line.
The winners in the draw were Sires' Stakes heroine Democrat Party and Supersonic Miss in a race which is going to be hard for bookies and punters to line up.
Not so tricky will be the Sires' Stakes Final for the juvenile pacers in which Lazarus will dominate the market after securing barrier three.
He led throughout to win the $200,000 Sales Series Pace last Saturday and will go close to securing the 2-year-old of the year title with a victory on Friday.
Australian visitor Salty Robyn, here for the Jewels, has drawn barrier five, while northerner Shandale, who was a huge second to Lazarus last Saturday, gets a wider front-line draw.
Speeding Spur is set to start a hot favourite in the $75,000 Sales Series Trot for 3-year-old trotters after drawing best of the favourites in his final lead-up to the Jewels.
The meeting also features a rejuvenated Master Lavros in the main trot and Lancewood Lizzie, Te Kawau and Ideal Success taking on Border Control in the Winter Cup.
