Herlihy 3YO will take some stopping

Being a three-year-old taking on some open class harness racing contenders may not be enough to halt Dontstopmenow (Captaintreacherous) at Alexandra Park tonight.

The son of Captaintreacherous finds himself taking on a one-time NZ Cup contender in Fernleigh Cash at just his seventh start so he is quickly finding himself thrust into racing’s deep end.

Admittedly he handled something similar last start when he beat many of those he meets tonight in a standing start handicap, albeit this week he is not as well off.

He has gone back 10m for his last start win while a rival like Simply Sam has come up 10m so effectively meets Dontstopmenow 20m better off.

So for such an inexperienced he faces a big challenge tonight but trainer-driver Tony Herlihy says he can still win as long as he has luck.

“He won pretty well last time and handled the standing start so he can win again but these races are often tricky and can come down to luck,” says Herlihy.

“But he has developed into a lovely horse and I am looking forward to seeing where he ends up.”

Herlihy takes good numbers to Alexandra Park before he heads south to partner Bolt For Brilliance at Addington on Friday night.

“I worked him last week and he was really good and then Curty (Jim Curtin) said he worked well on Saturday,” says Herlihy of Bolt.

“So he will get a good blowout on Friday and then ideally straight into the Dominion but we won’t make a final decision on whether he has another run or not until after Friday.”

Herlihy has two maidens in a strong race 3 tonight and rates Major Jay one of his better chances for the meeting.

“He was a nice two-year-old early in the season and has been good at the workouts so he will go well.

“He should win a race soon but it is quite a good field and he isn’t drawn the best.”

Early season two-year-old winner Yourdoinamazinsweety gets a good draw but also in a strong field in Race 5 and Herlihy says he should go better than his form suggests.

“Regal Girl (R6, No.5) is getting a bit stronger so she will be a chance too.”

Herlihy says Jethro Bodine’s three wins in quick succession are coming back to haunt him ahead of Race 7 tonight as the preferential draws put him on the outside of the gate, possibly negating his early speed.

For complete race entries, click here.

by Michael Guerin, for Harness Racing New Zealand