No stopping Green and Orange in the Junior FFA

The old harness racing firm of Ray Green and Blair Orange came to the fore at Addington today when the pair won the $40,000 Group Three TAB Junior Free For All with The Big Lebowski (Mach Three).

From barrier four Orange eased The Big Lebowski into the race taking an early one one sit behind Mighty Looee. When Franco Sinatra and Wag Star came round with a lap to run The Big Lebowski was four back on the outside.

At the 700 Orange gave the big gelding some rein and he was handy turning in. Travelling into a head wind up the straight the gelding was just too tough for Ohoka Connor and Sooner The Bettor who deadheated together for second, one and a half lengths back.

“I got a great run early and I was just a bit mindful following Mighty Looee. I mooched forward down the back and slipped in behind Wag Star for a bit. Everything just panned out good,” Orange said.

THE BIG LEBOWSKI REPLAY

The 2600 metre mobile was run in 3-09.7.

The Big Lebowski was developed by Southland trainer Robin Swain and won five races under his guidance. Swain has been a regular seller to Australians Merv and Meg Butterworth, and they bought into the horse early.

Being a big horse, The Big Lebowski was always going to take time and once he’d learnt his ringcraft in the south, he was sent north to Ray Green’s stable where he’s now won three races.

“This has been a good race for me winning with Krug and Republican Party. It’s great for Ray and Merv and Meg.”

Swain named the horse after the movie he liked by the same name starring Jeff Bridges and Julieanne Moore.

This race has been a good one for Swain who developed Roman Gladiator which won the Junior FFA in 2004 in the hands of Colin DeFilippi. He was trained by Swain with the late Colin Baynes.

The Big Lebowski is out of one of Baynes’ mares Cool Maiden. She also left John Of Arc which won nineteen races and over $300,000 in Australia.

For complete race results, click here.

by Bruce Stewart, for Harnesslink