Racing: The Orange Agent sets alarm bells ringing

Photo / Jason Dorday

The Orange Agent's South Island debut at Addington on Saturday should send more than alarm bells through her rivals - the emergency sirens should be going off.

The Brian Hughes-trained filly was having just her second left-handed raceday start after making Alexandra Park her own over the summer, but it seems the direction doesn't matter to the daughter of American Ideal.

Veteran driver Maurice McKendry sent the favourite to the lead shortly after the 1950m start point of the group one Nevele R fillies' final, and she was always in control as she strolled to a 1-length win over a brave Fight For Glory in second.

The Orange Agent shaved 0.9 seconds off Venus Serena's national 3-year-old fillies' 1950m record, registering 3:18.2, but McKendry said there was plenty left in the tank for Friday's New Zealand Oaks at Addington.

"She was cruising along," McKendry said. "It was surprising she went that quick from what she was doing - it's unreal."

The 2600m Oaks distance should pose no concerns for The Orange Agent, who thrashed her rivals in the Great Northern Oaks at Alexandra Park in February. "She's heading in the right direction," McKendry said.

Based on that, a handy barrier draw for the Oaks should see the filly sent out at better than even money for Friday night's classic.

Lazarus might be similarly short in the 2-year-old sires stakes on Friday night if he cops a sweet draw.

He had slightly more work to do than The Orange Agent when he sought the lead in the $195,000 sales series final on Saturday, but once he got to the front, he was hard to catch.

A late dash from Shandale suggests the North Islander could be one to watch on Friday, but Mark Purdon, the driver and co-trainer of Lazarus, was pleased with the smart effort from his colt. "The time [2.21.2] speaks for itself; it's not as though we got away with anything leisurely. He did the work in front and was still too good."

Earlier in the day, Belles Son continued his meteoric rise with a stunning late sprint to win the listed sires stakes aged trotters classic.

He has now won his last six starts for Amberley trainer Kevin Chapman and looks like the major threat to King Denny and Mum's Pride in the 4-year-old trotters' division of the Harness Jewels at the end of this month.