Orange takes out two Kaikoura features

At this time of the harness racing season the best shine. And that was evident today at Kaikoura when the country’s leading reinsman Blair Orange was able to read the early part of two feature races and go on to win both.

Mystic Max (Vintage Mystic) driven by Orange became the third trotter to win multiple South Bay Trotters Cups when he beat a small field of squaregaiters today.

Orange took the five year old to the lead early and easily held out Mighty Logan which was two and a quarter lengths away in second with Gold Bullion finishing third.

“He did that a lot more comfortably than I thought he would but in saying that he was probably aided by a couple of good chances (Aardiebythehill and One Over All) making mistakes,” trainer Michael Purdon told Trackside viewers.

MYSTIC MAX REPLAY

The winning time was 3-01.9.

Mystic Max joins Bordeaux (2016 and 2017) and I Can Doosit (2010, 2011 and 2012) as multiple winners of the Group Three feature.

“He had a private hit out at Addington on Thursday and they said he worked really nice. We got the start good today and we pressed on to the front. Down the back he put in a couple of steps and after that he wasn’t too bad. It was great for Michael to get a race like this again,” Orange said.

The win was the gelding’s ninth and forth Group success.

Orange’s other win was on Wish Me Luck (Vincent) and he got plenty of it, in the NZB Standardbred Sales Series Aged Pace.

Favourite Sooner The Bettor tangled with Rakero Rocket at the start which aided the Hayden Cullen trained runner.

After a few of his own fancy steps in his first start from the stand, Orange took Wish Me Luck to the top, realising that his main danger Sooner The Bettor was in strife.

“He spooked at the barrier (strand) when it went and jumped sideways a bit but he got into his rhythm pretty good. I did hear the tangle up with Sooner The Bettor. We got a bit of luck that way,” Orange said.

Turning in, Wish Me Luck’s main danger Lester driven by Kimberly Butt, was sitting on his back.

“I thought Kimberly was going to sling shot me on the inside but to the horse’s credit he really tried right to the line.”

WISH ME LUCK REPLAY

The winning margin was a head over Lester with Rakero Rocket two and a quarter lengths back in third.

The win was the second for Orange in the Sales Series feature. He won with William Wallace in 2020.

For complete race results, click here.

by Bruce Stewart, for Harnesslink