One of the real superstars of the harness racing scene in New Zealand in the just completed season has been the American Ideal three year old filly The Orange Agent.
While showing some promise at two where the The Orange Agent won once and was placed once from four starts, she hadn't really given given out any signals to what a champion three year she would become.
When you look at her record for the 2014/15 season, the thing that instantly takes your eye is the length of the season she had.
Active in early October 2014, The Orange Agent would be facing the starter for the18th time in the last eleven months when she lined up last Sunday for the Breeders Crown final at Tabcorp Park Melton.
It is a huge season for any horse but it takes a special three year old filly to still be at her peak last Sunday after such a huge season at the elite level of our industry.
Brian Hughes has done a magnificent job keeping her at such a high level for so long and Brian is sure he knows why The Orange Agent has been able to take it all in her stride.
" She takes absolutely nothing out of herself away from the racetrack."
" She is a terrible horse to jog as she is just so lazy."
" As for trackwork, she doesn't give you any indication of how good she is."
" I have always regarded it as a sign of a good horse when they look after themselves away from the track like she does," Brian said.
Driver Maurice McKendry, the longtime stable driver for the Hughes barn has been along for the ride all season and there is no mistaking when talking to Maurice about how highly he rates the now four year old mare.
" She doesn't always do everything right but she can make up for it with her ability."
" It wasn't my intention to race Start Dreaming with a lap to go in the Breeders Crown final but she bolted on me when the other horse came around us and it took me 400 metres to get her back under control."
" To go on and win the race after doing that is just another sign of how good this filly is," Maurice said.
Safely back in New Zealand, The Orange Agent will now have a short five week break before being aimed at the mares races around Christmas such as the Queen Of Hearts.
Brian is adamant that the five weeks break is plenty for The Orange Agent.
" She is a great doer out of work so if I leave her out too long I will never get her ready in time," Brian said.
With the loss of Adore Me from the open class mares ranks for this season, The Orange Agent looks well capable of taking over her mantle as New Zealand's leading racemare.
Harnesslink Media