Racing: Draw not an issue, bookies say

Smokin Bird will take her place in the New Zealand Oaks at Addington  tomorrow night. Photo by...
Smokin Bird will take her place in the New Zealand Oaks at Addington tomorrow night. Photo by Matt Smith.
A wide draw has not scared off the New Zealand TAB bookies from installing The Orange Agent as an odds-on favourite in tomorrow night's New Zealand Oaks for pacers at Addington.

The Nevele R Fillies' Finals winner, who will start from the outside of the front line, opened up at $1.80 when the market was released yesterday morning, with last week's runner-up Fight For Glory opening at $3.80 despite an awkward draw of 1 on the second line.

The Barry Purdon-trained filly Start Dreaming was the only other runner who opened in single figures, starting at a quote of $6.50.

The Dunedin filly Smokin Bird - who bypassed the Nevele R final last week due to soreness - is the rank outsider, priced at $101. She kept up her fitness with a win at the Oamaru trials yesterday.

In the other features, High Gait's unbeaten start to her career has earned her $1.80 favouritism in the 2yr-old Sires' Stakes mobile trot, while Lazarus opened at $1.55 in the 2yr-old Sires' Stakes pacing final, ahead of the Australian visitor, Salty Robyn, at $4.60.

Northern Velocity continued the trend of short favourites with a $1.80 price in the 2yr-old Fillies' Sales Series market, ahead of the Matthew Williamson-driven Luisanabelle Midfrew at $3.

However, Northern Velocity is only the $8 third favourite in the Harness Jewels 2yr-old Pacing Fillies' market which was opened yesterday, along with the two other juvenile markets.

Her unbeaten stablemate, Dream About Me, is the $1.60 favourite, and Tapanui-bred Arden's Choice is second-favourite at $3.50.

Lazarus is the $1.70 favourite for the 2yr-old male pacing category, while the Paul Nairn-trained Conon Bridge ($2.20) edges out High Gait ($2.40) in the juvenile trotting category.

Results from the North Otago Harness Racing Association trials at Oamaru Racecourse yesterday.- Weather, fine; track, fast.

Qualifying pace, 2400m: Come And Go M Williamson 1; State Law 2; Showtalk 3. Three started. Time, 3.13.9. L, distance. Trainer, T Harkness. State Law qualified.

C0 mobile pace, 2000m: Millwood Charity M Prendergast 1; Lets Go Freddy 2; Jayees Supreme 3. Five started. Time, 2.32.6. L, nk. Trainer, M Prendergast.

C1+ mobile pace, 2000m: Elusive Flight M Williamson 1; Here Comes Falcon 2. Two started. No time or margin taken. Trainer, S Allen.

C0 trot, 2000m: Madam Spur B Williamson 1; Playboy's Brother 2; Cicada Jenerik 3. Six started. Time, 2.46.2. 15L, L. Trainer, P Williamson.

C1+ pace, 2600m: Smokin Bird M Williamson 1; Loose Cannon 2; Motu Speedy Star 3. Three started. Time, 3.26.3. 1L, 3L. Trainer, K Court.

C1+ trot, 2600m: Ottawa M Tapper 1; Holdon Toyaspurs 2; Danny Cool 3. Six started. Time, 3.28.7. L, 2L.

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