Harness racing trainer Brian Hughes and driver Maurice McKendry have continued an extraordinary domination by the Kiwis at Tabcorp Park Melton.
The Orange Agent became New Zealand’s fifth Group 1 winner from five top-level events today, winning the three-year-old fillies’ final by 2.6m over fellow Kiwi Start Dreaming and another Kiwi Linda Lovegrace in third.
In fact former Kiwi – and the Breeders Crown champion from last year – Katy Perry finished fourth, with Michael Stanley’s pair Soho Tokyo and Soho Berlin finishing fifth and sixth respectively.
“She just gets better and better,” McKendry said of The Orange Agent, who has now won 16 races from 22 lifetime starts.
“She was a bit unruly as a two-year-old early on but she’s developed into a really lovely racehorse now.”
Dashing semi-final winner Ameretto led from the pole for Ashlee Siejka but was looking for a hole to jump into at about the 300m when Start Dreaming, who had worked to the chair around The Orange Agent, hit the lead.
Once in the home straight The Orange Agent finished strongest however, her class carrying her home in a slick 1:54.4.
Ameretto posted a lead time of 44.8secs and followed up with a 30-second first quarter.
However, a 27.7 second split took the zing out of Ameretto’s legs.
Katy Perry’s driver Amanda Turnbull did a stellar job to overcome a barrier nine draw, finding the back of the leader early.
But when Ameretto lost ground approaching the corner Katy Perry was held up before eventually getting into the clear and finishing off well for fourth.
The last half was covered in 56.8secs.
The Orange Agent is by American Ideal out of Lady Fingers.
by Cody Winnell