Tony Herlihy became the equal-most successful reinsman in Interdominion history when he drove Raydon to win a heat of the trotting series at Alexandra Park last night.
Herlihy was posting his 29th win in an Interdominion heat. He now shares the top spot with Anthony Butt.
Herlihy is the most successful reinsman in the trotting series with four wins in finals. He has won with Diamond Field (Sydney, 1994), Pride Of Petite (Adelaide, 1997), Buster Hanover (Sydney, 1998) and Delft (Melbourne, 2006).
Raydon, trained by Barry Purdon and Scott Phelan, was recording his first win in 13 starts this season. His previous win was in December 2009. He resumed racing in October after a break of nine months.
Purdon and his father, Roy, trained Diamond Field and also Night Allowance, winner of the Trotter's Final in Auckland in 1993.
Raydon ran the 2200m (mobile) in 2.44.8, 0.7sec outside the New Zealand record set by Cedar Fella in the corresponding heat at Auckland in 1999.
Sundon's Gift, the winner of the final for the past two years for trainer Chris Lang, was ruled out of a final berth this year when scratched last night. He has a muscular disorder.
His stablemate, Let Me Thru, brilliantly won the second heat for trotters last night after starting from the second line. He won by half a head from Springbank Richard, who was hardly less impressive.
He was sent to the outside of the mobile gate at the start after leaving stride in the initial dispatch and settled back in the field. Let Me Thru ran 0.1sec slower time than Raydon.
Smoken Up was within 0.1 of the NZ record when he won the second heat for pacers last night in 2.38.3. He led and ran his last mile in 1.56.9 and 800m in 56.9. Bogan Fella set the record in an Interdominion heat in Auckland in 1999.
Blacks A Fake qualified for a record sixth Interdominion final when finishing second.
Themightyquinn came from three back on the inner to win his heat by half a length from the pacemaker, Mr Feelgood.
• Top points scorers for the finals next Friday. -
Pacers: 20 Smoken Up; Themightyquinn; 16 Mr Feelgood; 13 Blacks A Fake; 12 Washakie; 9 Monkey King; 8.5 Sleepy Tripp, Power Of Tara; 8 Smiling Shard, Pembrook Benny; 7 Choise Achiever; 6 Villagem; 5 Captain Peacock, Franco Jamar (first emergency), 4 Captain Joy (2nd em).
Trotters: 20 Let Me Thru; 16 Springbank Richard; 15 Raydon; 14 Sovereignty, Stylish Monarch; 12 Dr Hook; 10 I Can Doosit; 7 Master Bomber; 6 Beat The Monarch, Lets Get Serious, Great Getaway; 5 Lleyton H, Danny Cash; 4 Kyvalley Mac (first emergency); Ready Set (2nd em).
• Additional information for meetings tomorrow. -
Auckland RC
Scratchings
Race 6: Mr Trim.
Race 7: Simply Irresistible.
Race 8: Rural Rebel, Sitara.
Race 10: Butcher's Daughter, Simply Irresistible.
Weather, fine; track, dead (4); rail out 10m.
Manawatu RC
Rider
Race 10: Chief Braveheart - B Lammas.
Scratchings
Race 5: Espresso, Triple Treat.
Race 6: Encosta Diablo.
Race 9: Our Ella Belle.
Race 10: Mr Charlie Brown, Krase.
Weather, fine; track, dead (4); rail, true position.
