Even the harness racing novice knows all about Tony Herlihy’s (MNZM) reputation as a driver.
The Ardmore reinsman was first to the join the 3,000 club, but as his 17th training season nears its close the 56-year-old driving genius is now on the verge of cracking a training milestone.
His three winners at Alexandra Park last Friday – Johnny Fox, One Over Da Moon, and Liberty Styx – took him to 60 wins for the season.
With eight harness racing meetings remaining in the North Island, Herlihy needs just wins two to equal his all-time best training year he achieved in the 2008-2009 season.
Zac Butcher steered Johnny Fox to victory in the feature event – the $20,000 Smith & Partners Winter Cup, while Herlihy steered the latter two, as well as Winter Cup runner-up, Darcee.
There’s seldom a meeting go by at Alexandra Park where the Ardmore horseman doesn’t go home with at least one training or driver victory. Usually both.
That’s why Herlihy’s been the best trainer and driver at Alexandra Park for several seasons now. So what does he put his escalating success down to?
“A nice quality of horse and a good band of loyal owners from throughout New Zealand and Australia. Overseas owners like Emilio (Rosati) and Merv and Meg Butterworth have given the stable some really nice horses.
“We are working about 30 to 35 all the time and good staff helps. We have a good team who are all committed to winning. Even after all these years I never get sick of winning. You can’t beat that winning feeling no matter what race it is. It’s always been that way with me.,” he said.
“I think the quality of racehorse we are training has also improved,” he added.
Herlihy has now trained 751 winners from 4,125 starters. He’s won $9.3 million in stakes and has cracked the million mark once – in 2008-2009. He has currently earned $758,232 in 2014-2015.
Herlihy’s Strike Won Stable had nine horses racing on Friday – including four in the feature event.
He said Johnny Fox was always going to be hard to beat in that Winter Cup if he was able to he get the last run at them.
“He’s been up here six weeks and Mark (Jones) did a lot to help with his breathing problems. He now wears a Cornell Collar.
“Zac drove him like he should have been driven. He came over the top of them well. I thought all four of our horses were much of a muchness in that race. I didn’t think there was much between the four of them and in the end it came down to the horse that got the best run,” said Herlihy.
He said Darcee was probably the most progressive type of the quartet while The Fascinator could be headed for the broodmares paddock in the spring.
Johnny Fox’s was having his third start for the Herlihy barn. He has now won 10 of his 40 starts and placed seven times for just over $100,000 in stakes.
The 6-year-old Western Terror gelding started from the 20m handicap and paced the 2700m stand in 3:25.6 (mile rate 2:02.5) with final 800m and 400m sprints of 57.1 and 28 even.
He is owned by the Butterworth Racing Syndicate.
Meanwhile, Herlihy’s Group winning pacer Ohoka Punter has just returned to work, while Herlihy’s best trotter One Over Da Moon made it two straight in Friday’s feature trot – the $14,999 HiFX Handicap for the C3 to C7 trotters.
“That was a nice win. He’s getting stronger all the time. He will have a couple of more races in the north and then it’s up to the owners if he will go to the Breeder’s Crown, or be spelled for the New Zealand Cup Carnival,” Herlihy said.
“He’s a real nice trotter and likes it with us. He’s pretty good but not quite as good as his Mother (One Over Kenny) yet,” he added.
Second favourite One Over da Moon also came down the outside to beat favourite Al Bundy (David Butcher) by two lengths.
He trotted the 2700m stand from his 40m handicap in 3:29.2. The mile rate was 2:04.6 and came home in 58.2 and 29.1.
It was the 4-year-old’s 13th win in 41 starts and took his earnings past $200,000.
By Duane Ranger
Driving the Future of Harness Racing