Hughes dreaming of easy route to Breeders Crown

Champion filly The Orange Agent may face only one rival at Cambridge tonight but her trainer Brian Hughes realises the importance of a win.

Fresh up since her national record Jewels stunner on May 30, The Orange Agent faces Start Dreaming, who finished a gigantic third at the Jewels, in a non-tote Breeders Crown heat.

The two-horse race has been given some extra sting by the TAB bookmakers opening a market on it but for the trainers of the two fillies the race is worth far more than the $5000 stake.

The winner automatically qualifies for the Breeders Crown semis on August 22, the loser will have to fly to Victoria sooner to contest a repechage, which Hughes is adamant he doesn’t want.

“I’d much rather win this week and then we can head to Victoria in our own time,” says Hughes.

“We don’t really want to be heading over early but I am sure Barry [Purdon, trainer of Start Dreaming] doesn’t want to either, which is why I’ve had to make sure our filly is ready.”

After a quiet 10 days following the Jewels, The Orange Agent has had three workouts and Hughes is happy with how she has handled her 13-start, 10-win season which has netted her more than $326,000.

“She is a gross type so it hasn’t taken much out of her and she is still as good as gold.” The Orange Agent is likely to open around $1.10 or $1.15 in tonight’s fixed market. The night’s other non-tote should see Bettor Spirits win before he heads to Alex- andra Park to contest a $20,000 race tomorrow night, giving him a shot at a rare double inside 27 hours.

Meanwhile, Addington officials have moved to lure the best pacers to New Zealand Cup Week with stake increases to their two richest races.

The New Zealand Cup on November 10 will increase $50,000 to $750,000, while the Free-For-All, three days later, is now worth $250,000, also up $50,000.

That means the elite pacers can race for their share of $1 million over the three days.