Blair Orange continues his remarkable run of bringing home driving premierships again this season but it there is a Back to The Future aspect to his feature drives at Addington tomorrow.
He will be having his first drives behind CHASE A DREAM and DON’T STOP DREAMING as well as WITHOUT YOU and resuming his successful association with RUBIRA for Mark and Nathan Purdon -an association which goes back a long way.
Blair is a rarity among our great horseman over many years in that he had no direct family racing stable connection as he began his rise to the top. Tony Herlihy is another and like Blair his rise came with major assistance from the various Purdon stables.
Blair established heis reputation as a coming star with Tim Butt before joining the Mark Purdon/Grant Payne team as senior horseman and quickly made his mark especially in events like the Harness Jewels where he set then records with his successes.
A change of career and association with the Ken Barron stable combined with a soon in strong demand free lancer led to multiple driving titles. And then he “filled in” for All Stars quite nicely steering Mark and Natalie’s charge Cruz Bromac home in the 2019 New Zealand Cup -followed by back to back Cups for Ray Green and Copy That.
Then earlier this year in a second reincarnation, he rejoined the Rolleston stable on a part time basis and as stable reinsman as Mark took a backward step.
“Mark sort of suggested it and I met he and Nathan over a coffee one day and we virtually settled it there and then. Ken was planning a step back too and the timetable fitted. I am usually there three mornings a week and do a couple of mornings with Ken still. It suited Mark and Nathan and it suits me and the stable is going well so it suits everyone” says the man with close to 3000 winners since Whizza Nova took out a maiden at Reefton in 1997 for the Butt stable.
He starts his search for a fourth Cup with Don’t Stop Dreaming (8.55:$3.40 fave)tomorrow but regards it as a way station rather than a destination.
“I drove him at the trials and he felt the part. He has a 20m handicap and you have to know he will improve further but they are very happy with him and he has the class to do the job”
Blair has been driving Chase a Dream (7.55:$2.45 fave) in his work and he has the advantage of a cosy draw compared to most of his stablemates on the night.
“Not easy to win the big ones first up but at least with the gate we have options. His work has shown that he is up to the mark and I am looking forward to the Harness Millions with him.He should be right in it”
Without You (8.23:$12)looked to be covered by Five Crowns in her final workout Wednesday but Blair says that could be misleading.
“What happened was when she got to the front she knocked off a bit bit and I just gave her reminder and she picked up again. I know Mark was disappointed last week but I think she is up to most of them with some luck from the gate on her ability”
Blair thinks Rubina (9.28:7,50)has gone on from his earlier 2yo campaign.
“He had quite a tough run last week mainly as a result of the draw and the way the race was run but he came out of it well and he had done the hard work early and those around him had easier trips. So he has got to be hard to beat”
Those odds might look very rosy around 9.30 tomorrow
Midnight Miki (4.56:$3.40) looks an early prospect for the night, after a tough run last week with impressive sectionals.
“The positive was that he kept fighting to the line and he seems to be improving all the time. He is better than most of them and looks a good drive”
Some of the odds around Five Crowns ($34/top 4 $4.20) and especially around Danny Zavitsanos-owned Demon Blue $13/3.20 top3) might also appeal.
Mystic Max (6.44:($20) is Blair’s drive in the Trotting Cup but he is in the earlier stages of a comeback and a solid effort and pulling up sound and well are the highest priorities here.
“But I wouldn’t judge him harshly on last week. He mucked up the start and the race was a sprint home so he had not chance of making ground from where he was.”
Luby’s Luck (5.44:$31)has been in the dunce’s corner this week after two early breaks in her races,one from the ace gate she has tomorrow.
“She needs to do it right and really she will also need to find some improvement to match some of them”
Balir naturally has several outside drives some at tempting prices but he recommends Wish Me Luck ($3,80) in the last fromn the stable of another Purdon stable satellite and partner,Hayden Cullen.
By late tomorrow we might all be saying its all back in the family !