Tony Herlihy holds no fear of Ohoka Punter trying to lead all the way at Ashburton.
The former Derby winner has been superb after coming back from an eight month injury lay off in December last year and will challenge for favouritism in the Group II Ashburton Flying Stakes on Monday.
Herlihy said the winner of 17 races from just 31 starts and more than $600,000 in stakes had handled the travel with ease after arriving in Canterbury last week from Papakura.
After three runs back this preparation, Ohoka Punter has shown signs he could be even better than his last campaign when he ran third in the Auckland Cup behind Christen Me and Adore Me.
With Adore Me retired and Cran Dalgety opting to skip Ashburton with a slightly below 100 per cent Christen Me, Ohoka Punter will battle Smolda, Tiger Tara and Sky Major as the leading chances.
Ohoka Punter ran equal third with Sky Major last start in the Holmes DG but was a winning chance if not held up by a tiring Besotted.
The positive for Herlihy was how quickly the 6-year-old son of Bettor's Delight stepped away from the tapes.
"If he can do that again we'll be looking for the lead," Herlihy said.
"He goes good in front so so I wouldn't be worried about leading for the trip."
If he can get the front from a handy draw of two, Herlihy will likely have have options as its logical to think he will be challenged at some time during the running.
Mark Purdon has reported that Smolda has bounced through his impressive resuming run in the Group II Canterbury Classic behind Tiger Tara and will likely be even better in the Flying Stakes.
It seems the further the better for Tiger Tara, but if Gerard O'Reilly can find the right run he will be a winning chance again.
The Barry Purdon pairing of Sky Major and Lancewood Lizzie are also in the south, back to the scene of their Harness Jewels victories back in May.
Monday will be Sky Major's third start back and if Zac Butcher can find the right trip after starting from the outside of the front line he will be a genuine threat.
The Purdon pairing and Ohoka Punter are high enough in the rankings to be assured a start in the New Zealand Trotting Cup regardless of what happens on Monday.
Mossdale Conner is also assured a cup start but Greg Hope is still looking for that breakthrough performance.
Hope said he more than happy with the way Mossdale Conner has been going but he just needs a bit of luck in the running.
John Dunn is expecting a much improved effort from No Doctor Needed who did not enjoy the grass at Methven last week.
Currently sitting 18th spot in the cup rankings, a strong showing on Monday could be enough to make the field and that is exactly what Dunn is looking for.
"If we are desperate we will go to Kaikoura but I'd rather not," Dunn said.
Lewy Risk, Delightful Dash and Quick As A Trick, who takes on last season's champion 3-year-old Have Faith In Me and comeback pacer Didjamakem Bolt in a C5 to open class pace over 2400m, need to put in serious runs to ensure their cup starts with a move up the rankings.
Mat Kermeen
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