by Trots Media – Michael Guerin
Superstar pacing mare The Orange Agent has been struck down by injury again, but managing owner John Green says the last-start Group 1 winner will be given every opportunity to make it back to the track next season.
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.
Her effortless win there completed the Mares Triple Crown in Victoria while she also downed subsequent Jewels winner Piccadilly Princess in the Group 1 Breeders Stakes at Addington in March as well as beating Smolda in the City Of Auckland Free-For-All.
That series of wins were graphic reminders of what a wonderful mare she is after a 14-month injury enforced layoff starting early last year.
“It is very disappointing but we don’t think she is finished yet,” said Green.
“She was supposed to head to Menangle last week and then race in the Len Smith Mile next week but when she got back from Victoria she wasn’t right.
“So she now has to spend three months out of work, most of it in a box, and then Bunty (trainer Brian Hughes) can start again.
“That means missing the Aussie winter features and the New Zealand Cup, so the most likely first target is a race like the Queen Of Hearts (December).
“But if she is not ready for that we will wait until she is ready, which could mean going back to Australia next season.
“Ideally though we want her to be a racehorse again if she can. She has plenty of time to be a broodmare in the future.
“But if the injury doesn’t heal as we want it to then that broodmare career might come earlier than we want.”
The Orange Agent has won 23 of her 33 starts, placing in six others and won NZ$746,423, setting five New Zealand records.
On top of this season’s Group 1s she has also won a Harness Jewels in a record 1:51.1, the Northern Oaks by five lengths, the Nevele R Fillies Final and the Australasian Breeders Crown.
She would have been a certainty for Mare of the Year at the Harness Racing New Zealand annual awards to be held on August 3 but for the Auckland Cup win of fellow superstar mare Dream About Me in December.
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