Racing: Hughie Green a special talent

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Maurice McKendry rarely talks numbers. He may have over 3000 career driving wins but he is living proof you can take the boy out of Methven but you can't take Methven out of the boy.

And in Methven they don't rave and carry on. Like his old rugby mate Ricky May, McKendry is calm and understated when discussing his drives.

So when Mr Understated starts bubbling and quoting times, you instantly realise the reason for such hyperbole must be a special horse.

Which is about all you need to know before taking the short odds about Hughie Green in today's $170,000 Sires' Stakes Final at Addington.

A maiden at the start of the season Hughie Green has been on the rampage, winning five of six starts this season and even his defeat was stunning, overcoming a mid-race gallop before making up huge ground against near open-class opponents, only to later be disqualified.

He bolted away with the northern Sires' Stakes heat, has thrashed some of his opponents today since and has barrier four, which looks ideal.

But that isn't what gets McKendry so uncharacteristically excited.

Last start at Alexandra Park, Hughie Green came from off the speed and off the markers to pace his last 800m in 53.3 seconds, one of the fastest times recorded by any pacer in New Zealand. "When you see a time like that you realise he is pretty good," enthuses McKendry.

Then he really gets into his work.

"The leader went 53.9 and some people clocked us at 53.3 but one timer said 53.2.

"And he did it that easy. The way he came around that bend at that speed and then just kicked clear was the mark of a good horse.

"And he really runs through the line. He is a good one all right."

Hughie Green is bred to be special, by Art Major out of New Zealand Cup runner-up Alta Serena and he should go better than his dam by winning a group one on Cup day.

While he is stepping on to the big stage for the first time today pacers in this part of the world simply don't run much faster than Hughie Green's recent sectionals and that will have earned him huge respect.

He is drawn between two speedsters in Art Union (3) and Mighty Flying Major (5) today so won't lead early but his reputation is so big now if McKendry gets serious coming to the winning post the first time it is hard to imagine him not getting the lead.

If that happens he should win and even money will be a fair price. If he has to sit in the running line then luck becomes more of a factor, but McKendry didn't win 3000 races by accident so can be trusted to make the right decision.

His early gallop when he spotted tyre marks on the track three starts ago might be the biggest concern, especially with all the distraction of Cup day which is hardly ideal for inexperienced horses with good eyesight. But the addition of a shadow roll two starts ago seems to have refocused him.

Art Union and Mighty Flying Major are logical dangers while the Purdon-Rasmussen team has its usual serious 3-year-old firepower but they are drawn poorly and will need to work mid-race and then come around the favourites up front.

The best of them on ability is Alta Orlando, who has some real x-factor but doesn't give you a great deal of confidence with his wayward tendencies and stablemate Hug The Wind's professionalism may give him a better hope. And First4 players should include Strike The Gold, who will sit handy on the markers and do no work so could sneak a place.