by Chris Barsby
Plans for two of New Zealand’s leading ladies have drastically changed.
Originally, brilliant open class mare The Orange Agent and the freakishly gifted three-year-old Spanish Armada were both set to grace Brisbane during the 2017 Albion Park winter carnival.
Both had a number of targets being mapped for the month of July.
The Orange Agent was set to take on the boys in the Gr.1 $100,000 Len Smith Mile at TABCORP Park, Menangle on June 25 before heading north for the Gr.2 $50,000 Garrards Sunshine Sprint on July 8 with the Gr.1 $200,000 UBET Blacks A Fake the following week while Spanish Armada was being readied for the Listed $25,000 Egmont Park Stud Provincial Oaks on July 1 followed by the Gr.2 $75,000 Queensland Oaks a week later.
But injury has ruined plans for both pacers.
The Orange Agent was found to have a hairline fracture in a fetlock after being scratchy in her work upon returning home from winning the Queen of the Pacific at Melton in Victoria last month.
Trainer Brian ‘Bunty’ Hughes is forced to give his star pupil three months off, in which most of that time will be spent boxed before resuming light duties.
The Orange Agent has won 23 of her 33 starts while banking more than $745,000 in stakes.
Spanish Armada, a last start winner of the Gr.1 $150,000 Diamond on Jewels day at Ashburton on June 3 arrived in Sydney late last week.
Her arrival in Queensland was set for this week but a slight leg bump before leaving was picked up but not tipped as super serious and is expected to bounce back quickly.
Connections are hopeful the filly will be right to contest the Australasian Breeders Crown in Melbourne in August.
The Bettors Delight filly has won 14 of her 19 starts while banking more than $787,000 in stakes.
The all-conquering All Stars stable of Mark Purdon and Natalie Rasmussen is now left with New South Wales Oaks winner Partyon and classy colt More The Better as their leading lights for the carnival.
Approved By Dean Baring www.harnessbred.com
Driving The Future Of Harness Racing
