Bolt For Brilliance is out of the TAB Trot

Bolt For Brilliance’s (Muscle Hill) outstanding harness racing career is on hold and that will open up a slot in the $575,000 TAB Trot at Cambridge on April 12.

The former Rowe Cup winner and northern trotting hero is still struggling with a breathing issue and trainer-driver Tony Herlihy says he won’t be racing in time for the new slot trot race.

“He is still having the breathing issues that stopped him showing his best during his South Island campaign,” says Herlihy.

“He had the operation to help with an entrapped epiglottis but we still can’t get him quite right so we will miss the autumn and keep working on him.”

Herlihy and his partners in Bolt For Brilliance had purchased a slot for the race and now have the option of negotiating with the owners of a good trotter or even on-selling the rights to the whole slot.

Cambridge chief executive David Branch told HRNZ the slot can’t be renamed but can be sold in its entirety to the owners of another horse so they can start in the TAB Trot without having to split the prize money.

“So we are open to offers whether that be a negotiation or if somebody wants to buy the rights to the slot and race in it,” says Herlihy.

“It is a real shame because we would have loved to have him there but we have to do what is best for the horse.”

Herlihy will head to Cambridge tonight looking to continue a fine run in early season juvenile events in recent years when he lines up two of the five starters in Race 3.

“They are both lovely horses but I think with the slightly better draw Great White (No.2) might have the better chance,” he explains.

“We all know with early season juveniles what run they get and how they behave is the key but both of them and Ray Green’s horse drawn the ace (Lincoln Lou) go well enough there shouldn’t be much between them.”

Herlihy rates his debutante trotter Hillbilly Blues in Race 1.

“He is a really nice horse but the first time race night is always harder because we have such small fields in the trials up here,” says Herlihy.

“But he is well bred and if he does things right, which he usually does, he will be tough.”

Another trotter in Luby Lill (R4, No.1) looks ideally placed for Herlihy dropping back from Alexandra Park company and drawn the ace behind the mobile, which she has already won from behind before.

“She has been racing well and Monny (Ranger, junior driver) is driving very well so it looks a good race for her.”

For complete race entries, click here.

by Michael Guerin, for Harness Racing New Zealand