Racing: Chance at good luck

Orpington has a bit of bad luck to make up for.

Wayne and Tony Pike were looking at Levin Classic group one glory last November when Orpington badly ricked a hind fetlock.

The handsome 3-year-old resumes for his first race since in the $60,000 Westbury Stud Sunline Stakes at Te Rapa tomorrow.

It won't be easy beating a smart type like Savute without a race in five months. But the Pikes are heartened by Orpington's good second to class sprinter Gee I Jane at the recent Te Awamutu barrier trials.

"He badly needed that run," says Tony Pike. "He was very fresh in the birdcage. He sweated up and bounded around. The outing has done him the world of good. It's brought him forward a lot."

Raceday jockey Michael Coleman was pleased with Orpington's trials performance.

Orpington has drawn inside Savute and can sit on the speed. If he does not have to work too hard early, he could finish off as well as Savute, a runaway winner at Tauranga last start.

Victory or an excellent performance would see Orpington tackle a couple of minor races at the Queensland carnival.

"There's not that many decent races for sprinter milers at the carnival unless you're going for races like the Stradbroke, but there are a couple of A$75,000 races that would suit him."