Orange picks up rare bonus drive

Blair Orange has picked up the rarest of Group One bonus drives for the A$250,000 Blacks A Fake on Saturday night.

But he knows he still faces being up against it even though he is driving multiple Group One winner Amazing Dream.

Orange picks up the drive after Mark Purdon, who reined Amazing Dream to win the Rising Star two starts ago returned home and Anthony Butt, who drove her to third in mare’s company last Saturday, was committed to Copy That for this Saturday’s super race.

Orange, who is about to win his fourth New Zealand premiership, has stayed in Queensland the last 10 days after partnering Krug in the Rising Sun so he can do so again in the Queensland Derby this Saturday.

So he was offered the drive on both Amazing Dream and Spirit Of St Louis and has chosen the great group one mare for trainer Nathan Purdon.

“It was great to be thought about for two drives for a race this big,” says Orange.

“I decided on Amazing Dream and she seems to go better the tougher the race.

“But we all know it is going to be hard to beat King Of Swing after he drew the ace so I am hoping there is at least some pressure.”

Orange will also have his work cut out in the Derby as Krug has drawn the second line but he does have the advantage of it being barrier two and behind second favourite and fellow Kiwi pacer American Dealer.

Both will be suited by the step up to 2680m, a distance range they are far more comfortable at after having raced at it twice in Derbys here in New Zealand.

by Michael Guerin