Orange masterclass sparks Taketheplunge win

Taketheplunge (Downbytheseaside) started an important fortnight for harness racing trainer Steven Reid with a win at Addington on Thursday night but the popular trainer was giving plenty of the credit to driver Blair Orange.

“That was a Blair Orange special,” said Reid after the pair claimed the Bolty’s Clearing Sales Mobile Pace.

As he does so often Orange decided to control a race he was going to lose after Taketheplunge initially ended up parked.

Orange lent forward, got the front, stole an easy sectional and the 55.7 second last 800m was the end of the race.

“It was a great drive but he is actually a rarely nice horse,” says Reid.

“I have said all along he would make a great Menangle horse because he loves following a hot speed and I think that is eventually where he will end up.”

TAKETHEPLUNGE REPLAY

The win starts a hectic period for Reid, with Bazooka set to endure a couple of firsts at Rangiora on Friday in the Rangiora Equine Amberley Cup.

“He has never been from a stand before and never raced on the grass so there are two unknowns there but when the field came up with only six noms I decided to give him his chance.

“But if he gets things right then those horses off the back marks could struggle to give him a start.”

Then next week Reid rolls out his Juvenile Pacer of the Year in Jumal for the first time in 2026 at the trials.

“He has sprinted up a couple of good quarters at home but I actually lost the use of my galloping pacemakers for a while so he, like some others of mine, have been fast working more or less by themselves.

“So I am looking forward to getting him back at the trials and in some company and getting his mind on the job.

“The week after there are no trials because of the sales so he will probably go to somewhere like Addington or Rangiora for a trip and a private workout and then resume at Addington on February 27.”

Reid says he will go back to the tried and true by trying to purchase as least one, maybe two, colts by Downbytheseaside (Jumal’s sire) at the yearling sales.

“I have seen a few I really like so I will be trying to get them and then syndicate them for people who want to try to get a Jumal.”

One of the stars of the rare Thursday night Addington meeting was Bob Butt, who as he suggested in the HRNZ preview, was able to win the main trot with Roydon Muscle while he also won a decent maiden race earlier with Prophet.

And He Ain’t Fakin enjoyed his return to mobile racing when smashing his rivals in a lower grade trot.

For complete race results, click here.

by Michael Guerin, for Harness Racing New Zealand