The Orange Agent wins the Alabar Make Mine Cullen.
The Orange Agent looked in a class of her own in round one of the Mares Triple Crown, but while she chewed up and spat out some of Victoria’s best talent it may be a fellow Kiwi that rattles her cage.
Leading New Zealand trainer Mark Purdon has thrust Our Golden Goddess into the crown, hoping the four-year-old can recreate the form that’s seen her stretch leading Australasian pacers Lazarus and Our Waikiki Beach.
She has been installed as an equal $2 favourite at TAB.com.au with The Orange Agent for tonight’s Alabar Angelique Club Cup at Tabcorp Park Melton, a figure that reflects Our Golden Goddess’ favourable gate two draw.
“Brian’s mare (The Orange Agent) is probably the best, but she is drawn on the second row,” Purdon said. “It will be great to see (Our Golden Goddess) run along in front. She will be very competitive.”
She will have to be. In gun reinsman Chris Alford’s hands The Orange Agent dominated last Saturday night’s mares feature, the Alabar Make Mine Cullen, finding the front from gate six and careering away to a 6.4m win with a 27.1-second final quarter.
But punters have come for Our Golden Goddess, who shortened from $4.50 to even money on TAB.com.au fixed odds, with Emma Stewart’s proven winner Rocknroll Magic considered the best of the Victorian hopes at $8.50.
There’s certainly reason for confidence around Our Golden Goddess. Amid her first campaign in open-age racing she was beaten only 2.1m last start by stablemate Lazarus, who many consider Australasia’s best pacer.
“She’s been racing very well,” Purdon said. “She’s stepped up really well to the open class.
“Her last couple of runs were against Lazarus and Waikiki Beach and she ran third in both of those, they were small fields but she still acquitted herself well. She’s just a step behind, but is also very close to them.”
Purdon said Our Golden Goddess would contest the $100,000 Benstud Queen Of The Pacific on May 20, the second of only two Victorian Group 1 mares races, before likely returning home for a crack at the New Zealand Jewels.