Racing: No stagefright on this Debut

Blair Orange has paid Jays Debut the ultimate compliment on the eve of his return to Alexandra Park tonight.

The unbeaten three-year-old pacer is the first southern raider of Auckland Cup month, using tonight's Great Northern Stakes as a lead-up to the Great Northern Derby and Sales Series Pace.

While he has only had one start back this campaign and faces a tricky draw against some of the north's best colts, Jays Debut will start a warm favourite on the track where he exploded onto the scene over the winter.

And his driver Orange says the public support will be justified.

"He is very good, potentially the best I have driven," says Orange.

That is a huge call considering Orange has driven most of the Mark Purdon-trained stars of the last five years, including New Zealand Derby and Sales Series winner Jack Cade.

Jack Cade went on to be placed in a New Zealand Cup and Miracle Mile, although injuries robbed him of the chance to show his true greatness.

"He was a great horse and I was lucky to drive him but I think this fella could end up being better," said Orange.

"He has it all. He has speed and stamina and I think he is even better than when he raced up there over the winter.

"Back then he was just doing it on natural ability but since he has come back this time he has looked stronger and I think he is mentally tougher."

Jays Debut confirmed that with an impressive first-up win at Addington on Show Day, overcoming a tough run and race hardened opponents to win.

"If I had known he was going to have to work like that I wouldn't have thought he could win because it was a huge ask for a three-year-old but he was just too good."

He has progressed well since, pleasing Orange and trainer Grant Payne during a private workout at Addington last Saturday.

While class is no concern tonight Jays Debut will have to start from the outside of the front line in a smart field.

"At first glance it doesn't look that good but I think he can still overcome it.

"What will help is that there are only three horses on the second line so hopefully we can slide across and get into the one-off line without having to do too much work.

"He will still probably have to sit parked at some stage to win but I think he can do that."

Making Jays Debut's job just that little bit harder is the presence of arguably the north's best three-year-old, Ambro The Thug, from barrier two.

He is one of three in the race for trainer Geoff Small and could end up in front, from where he would be hard to catch even for a pacer of Jays Debut's quality.

Ambro The Thug was luckless in the Sires' Stakes Final at Addington, as was his stablemate Awesome Armbro, neither horse suited by getting back in a race with few moves. They should be big improvers tonight and look the greatest dangers to the hotpot.

Sires' Stakes runner-up Classic Line is another hope while there will be interest in the performance of Roddick, who easily won on debut here last Friday. He steps up many classes tonight but co-trainer John Green already rates the gelding as a potential topliner, saying he is at least as good as his rugged four-year-old Matter Of Pride.