He, too, was thought to be good enough to defeat the Purdon runners but after a hard run he freaked out halfway up the Addington home straight, ducked inside the markers and almost rolled his way up on to the greyhound track as a Purdon trio raced to the trifecta.
Like Hughie Green, The Orange Agent has shown an occasional tendency to lose her way under extreme pressure, so the similarities could be enough to scare punters away from her now $1.80 fixed odds quote.
McKendry says he isn't worried by that, or anything else for that matter.
"Hughie was still very green that day and the huge crowd didn't help when he was under pressure," he offers.
"And while this filly used to have a few tricks Bunty [Hughes] has done a great job with her and she has been great recently. And, of course, there won't be a huge crowd like that.
"So I am not worried about her manners and her fitness should be spot on as she has had three or four workouts and has been really good.
"She travelled down well and Bunty is happy so I am, too."
A crucial ingredient of The Orange Agent's recent mental development has been her improved gate speed because if she can lead from barrier two then the race is hers to lose.
If the foreign environment sees her even slightly wayward early and one of the Purdon-Rasmussen runners gets in front of her then the dynamic of the race changes dramatically.
Her Northern Oaks win was so stunning The Orange Agent deserves to be favourite but it was no more impressive than Fight For Glory's win two days later in the NSW Oaks so the difference in their price is maybe too great, especially if Fight For Glory could somehow get in front of the northerner.
The likes of Democrat Party, Supersonic Miss and Classical Art all add depth to the race but they could also said to be racing a length below their best so one of the two favourites should win.
While McKendry is confident in one of tomorrow's elite races with The Orange Agent, he realises his own stable runner Shandale might need more than just a good draw in the other, the $200,000 Sales Series Pace.
The lightly-raced juvenile has looked slippery in weakish northern company and was a charging third against the older horses last start so looks the best of the rest in the day's richest race.
"The Rest" are those not from the Purdon-Rasmussen stable, who have remarkably won every major juvenile race they have contested in Australasia so far this season.
That looks certain to continue tomorrow as they have the two favourites in Lazarus and Chase The Dream, as well as high-class back-up in Motu Premier and Cash N Flow.
Their dominance has become so complete at juvenile level they could realistically clean sweep the major juvenile races for the season, as crazy as that sounds.
Earlier on the huge day-time programme, Conon Bridge deserves to be favoured to overcome a poor draw in the trotting Sires' Stakes for juveniles, while Waterloo Sunset and Belles Son head a hot field for the aged Sires' Stakes.
The day's tightest assessed pace gives Dalton Bromac the perfect chance to rebound from a fruitless recent northern trip, while the big trot sees Stent having to concede arch rival Master Lavros a 10m head start over 2600m.
Stent has been so wonderful all season he can still win but if Master Lavros can reach the lead then Stent's final race for the season could be one of his trickiest.
Weekend winners
• Best bet: Conon Bridge (Addington, R3): Classy little fella who thrashed main rival here last start.
• Value: Fight For Glory (Addington, R8): If she gets to $3.80 or $4 is tempting even against a star like The Orange Agent in what could be tactical race.
• Double whammy: God Forbid (Alex Park, R8): Not only the best horse but has top invited junior driver.
