Bolt up to the challenge?

Is Bolt For Brilliance (Muscle Hill) ready for harness racing’s biggest trotting challenge? This is the question on punters minds leading into the Group One Renwick Farms Dominion Handicap tomorrow.

Two weeks ago after giving the small field a thirty metre head start on a testing track, the six year old gelding ran third, three and a quarter lengths behind winner Smokin Bandar (Monkey Bones).

Trainer driver Tony Herlihy says Bolt For Brilliance has come through the run well.

“It was a hard run a couple of weeks ago in the wet. It was quite heavy going at that stage (of the night) and it was a tough run. After that we didn’t think he needed too much. Hopefully we’re right.”

Asked if he thinks Bolt For Brilliance has come back as good as he was before injury halted his career, Herlihy was cautious with his reply.

“I think so. He’s a horse that probably doesn’t race as good down here as he can at home but we’re hoping to rectify that on Friday.”

Bolt For Brilliance has won twenty one of his forty nine starts and stakes of $716,434. He’s had thirteen starts at Addington for two wins, two seconds and three thirds. His last win on the track was in March 2021. He’s started once before in the Dominion, finishing third to Sundees Son (Majestic Son) in 2021.

As a driver Herlihy won the Dominion Handicap in 1992 driving Directorship (Lordship) for Garry Smith.

by Bruce Stewart, for Harnesslink