By Matt Markham
He may not have been able to beat him in the national drivers premiership, but Blair Orange is in a position to take control of another title that Dexter Dunn has had a stranglehold on.
Heading into the last meeting of the season at Addington tonight, Orange has a slim, one-win, margin in the Addington drivers’ premiership with 58 winners for the term at Harness HQ.
With 57, Dunn is breathing down the neck of his good mate but he is also in the unfamiliar territory of being the one who is doing the chasing as opposed to the being the one who is getting chased.
He does have the huge advantage however of two non-tote drives that should see him put himself in front.
He jumps on the Cran Dalgety trained pair of Bettor Joy and Master Moonlite, both of whom should taste success in their respective Breeders Crown heats, putting Dunn back in the hotseat and setting up an intriguing battle over the night.
Dunn also has strong winning hopes with Especial in the South of the Waitaki Series early in the night while Kamwood Kid and Mikey Maguire are also good winning options.
Orange’s book tonight is full of each way chances with no superstar standouts.
His best could be the Roger Austin trained pair of Idle Moose and Idle Monkey. Both are talented trotters with the all-round game to be victorious and provided they bring their manners they will be right in the fight.
Theboyslightup and Reaza Grunter are also good chances for Orange.
The remainder of the Addington premiership races are all over with Mark Purdon and Natalie Rasmussen prominent figures among the prize winners.
With 53 wins they are well clear on the overall trainers’ premiership – 25 wins clear of Greg and Nina Hope, while they also lead the Universal Trainer Rating with an impressive .4381 % from 174 starters.
Paul Court is next on that list with a strike-rate of .3118 % from his 67 starters.
Rasmussen has the strike rate drivers prize all to herself with an incredible .6580% from her 51 winners.
With no junior drivers race tonight, Kim Butt will finish a one-point victor in the Junior Drivers Prize and Spanish Armada has the popular Filly or Mare of the Year award.
Meanwhile, Addington officials will make a decision on tonight’s meeting around 1pm today.
Inclement weather is tearing it’s way down the country with a deluge of rain and the threat of some heavy snowfalls.
Contingency plans were put in place yesterday that could see the meeting shift to tomorrow if need be.
Those decision are expected to be made after lunchtime to allow enough time to see how the storm is going to play out.
Matt Markham – Addington Selections
Race 1: Sharknado, Lloydin Magic, All Nuts N Bolts, As Kiwi As
Race 2: Jerry Garcia, Spurred By Success, Sunshadz, Spurofthemoment
Race 3: Vera’s Delight, Especial, Jody Direen, Melina Lowe
Race 4: Gunpower, Rocknroll Nevin, Sportscaster, Takitimu Express
Race 5: Beyond The Horizon, Jean Sebastien, Idle Moose, Diana Harbour
Race 6: Boults On Fire, Hypervelocity, Bite The Bullet, Compliant
Race 7: Ronald J, Idle Monkey, He’s Like The Wind, All Settled Down
Race 8: Christmas Toyboy, Kamwood Kid, My Nikayla, Theboyslightup
Race 9: Mikey Maguire, Spirit Of Delight, One Direction, Reaza Grunter
Best Bet: Christmas Toyboy (Race 8)
Value: Vera’s Delight (Race 3)
Approved By Dean Baring www.harnessbred.com
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