Third winning treble for Orange at Taupo

By Dave Di Somma, Harness News Desk 

Harrison Orange warmed up for his birthday with a winning treble at Taupo yesterday.

The talented teenager, who's made a huge impact since joining the junior driving ranks in 2024, turns 19 today.

Yesterday he reined three home as Taupo hosted its first ever harness racing meeting. It's the third time he's had three winners in one day on the grass.

He won with The Night Agent, American Me and Shezabettorgirl at Hawera a week ago (January 20), and also at the same venue in February 2025 (Boudica, Tina Ace and Golden Line).

"I enjoy coming down here for all these circuits - the grass racing is good," says Orange, who works for the Barry Purdon - Scott Phelan stables in Clevedon.  

He opened the day with Buynowpaylater winning her first race at start number 10 for trainer Brodie Ellis, followed it up with the Zev Meredith-trained Dominus storming to an emphatic victory in the Revell Douglas Memorial Series and then took out the day's feature pace with American Me in the Dunstan Horsefeeds Lake Taupo Summer Cup.

"The track held up pretty good through the day," says Orange.

Though it did have its quirks.

"Coming up to the 400 you start going uphill and then you start going down and getting some speed up," says Orange.

In the Cup it was a case of class prevailing, despite American Me starting off the back mark of 45 metres.

"He stepped good and got a good possie and they put the speed on down the back which suited us," says Orange.

Orange then made his move three wide around the 600 metre mark and American Me "toughed it out" with a two length win from You Little Beauty who charged home into second.

It was American Me's 18th career success for his Ashburton-based trainers Brent and Tim White and comes after his last start win in the Stratford Cup at Hawera last week.  

Andre Poutama and Jacob Dunn also had good days. 

Poutama was successful with Melton Mogul and Sweet Vintage and would have got three only for Johnny Who to get nosed into second by the Matthew White-trained and driven Paramount Kiwi in the Garrards Horse and Hound Taupo Trotters Cup while Dunn had a winning double with Senior Constable Liz and Savarna.