By Michael Guerin
Hughie Green gets the perfect opportunity to get his personal monkey off his back at Alexandra Park tonight.
The north’s most hyped pacer has the ace draw and his destiny supposedly in the hands of his driver Maurice McKendry in the $30,000 Summer Cup, the first of two lead ups to the Auckland Cup on December 31.
After a dazzling win over race rival Ohoka Punter at the Pukekohe workouts on Saturday, Hughie Green is likely to start favourite tonight. But as good as he is he meets the other age group contender to become our next top pacer in Have Faith In Me and when the pair have met in the past, it hasn’t ended well for Hughie.
Hughie Green was the favourite for the Sires’ Stakes at Addington last year but went walkabout in the home straight after a torrid run, right about the time Have Faith In Me was storming to victory in the race that announced his arrival on the national scene.
Four months later Have Faith In Me added the Northern Derby to his bulging group one swag, with Hughie Green third, five lengths away.
So Have Faith In Me clearly has the runs on the board and appeals as the next big thing in NZ pacing, but Hughie Green has an abundance of x-factor and the draw to dictate to his old rival tonight.
Have Faith In Me has drawn directly behind Hughie Green, which means Hughie’s driver Maurice McKendry might hold both horse’s fates in his hands.
“I think I have options,” says McKendry.
“He has such high speed I think he could hold the lead if I wanted to and we might look to do that.
“But if we did trail I think he would take the passing lane all right, he has done it before here.”
That latter scenario could leave Have Faith In Me locked away on the markers and as good, potentially great, as he is, winning high class 2200m races at Alexandra Park from three deep on the markers is rare.
Trainer Mark Purdon admits Have Faith In Me may be “only 85 to 90 per cent ready” for tonight’s race and says he would be happy for driver Tim Williams to follow Hughie Green regardless of where that left him in the field.
“I am sure Maurice will pull the right rein with Hughie and if we are following him we should get a chance.”
So talented are the four-year-old pair that they could dominate betting in the race even though No Doctor Needed, Tiger Tara, Besotted and Ohoka Punter are among their rivals.
No Doctor Needed beat The Orange Agent fair and square last start and with his gate speed looks the most likely challenger to Hughie Green for the early lead so could be worth an each way ticket.
But Tiger Tara, Ohoka Punter and Besotted can all win, they just might need some mid-race pressure to do so.
Hughie Green is the second leg of a powerful double team for McKendry and trainer Brian Hughes, with The Orange Agent likely to overcome a second line draw in $30,000 Breeders Stakes.
She was second fresh up but still unofficially broke the national mares 1700m record last start and comes in well even under the preferential barrier draw conditions tonight.
Instead of drawing wide, like fellow open class mares Fight For Glory or Lancewood Lizzie, The Orange Agent will start from three on the second line with two fast beginners drawn in front of her.
She should be able to punch through early and get handy from where McKendry could control the race and it is hard to see her beaten.
Purdon warns that Oaks winner Fight For Glory will need a run tonight but rates Stroke Of Luck (race two) as the stable’s big improver and best chance again tonight.
“And our three-year-olds are very even, I don’t think there will be a lot between Motu Premier and Chase The Dream (race four) this week either.”
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