NZ HARNESS NEWS
New Zealand’s leading driver Blair Orange had to be razor-sharp to avert disaster with favourite Somejoy in the in the $30,000 Macca Lodge ‘Trained South Of The Waitaki’ Mobile Pace at Addington on Show Day (Friday).
It was an ‘Orangeathon’ as described the Trackside’s Greg O’Connor early doors on the Addington programme, with the in-form reinsman taking out three of the first four.
Orange said he was “very lucky” to stay in the race on Somejoy, prepared at Rakauhauka in Southland by Clark Barron.
“I had just pushed one out of the way to follow John Dunn (driving second favourite Pantastic) when his horse galloped,” Orange said.
He had to take a sharp hold of Somejoy and switched her inside the breaking Pantastic within a couple of seconds.
They lost around five lengths in the incident but virtually didn’t miss a beat getting back to race speed, tacking on with three-wide cover down the back.
Orange launched Somejoy five wide into the straight but the capable daughter of Somebeachsomewhere was reveling in her work, with Orange having a final card to play when he pulled the earplugs at the 200m.
Somejoy was a class above, winning by a length from Santanna’s Rocket, who tried to lead over the last lap.
The winner rated a swift 1:55.5 rate for the 1950m, being timed over her last 800m in 56.3s, as opposed to the leaders last 800m in 58.4s.
Her mile rate was 0.1 of a second quicker than she posted over the mile from an outside second row draw at Winton nearly a week ago, crediting Barron’s daughter Ellie with her first driving win.
Ellie Barron said the mare needed a run last week to fit her for the Addington race and being a penalty-free junior drivers race, she made the most of the opportunity.
“She’ll go home, most likely have a bit of a break, then get ready for the mares’ races,” Ellie said.
A race-winning 1:55.4 miler at three last term, she’s now won four of 12 starts for the Miracle Lodge Syndicate, which consists of trainer Barron and Ashburton chartered accountant, Eric Parr.
The late Alex McDonald, who formerly co-owned and trained top mare Lento, was also part of the Syndicate but died in 2013.
“I used to be Alex’s accountant. He was very keen on figures,” said Parr.
- NZ Harness News
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