Tony Herlihy was in the only spot he did not want to be shortly after the start of the $55,000 Gr2 Haras des Trotteurs 3YO Sires Stakes Championship at Alexandra Park tonight.
His harness racing trotting filly Tickle Me Pink was fresh up, and was parked out in a race full of match fit colts and geldings including the two trotters Enhance Your Calm and Lotamuscle who provided the quinella in the New Zealand Derby only a few weeks ago.
But in the end it did not matter as Tickle Me Pink (Muscle Hill – Luby Ann) was too good shooting clear on the turn and holding on gamely by a head to beat a closing Paul Nairn trained Lotamuscle, his stablemate Gil Favour and an unlucky Enhance Your Calm who ruined his chances with an early gallop.
"She has come back in great order from Breckon Farms after being sick in Australia last winter and all credit to them and their vets and the work they did with her in the interim of getting her back to my place," Tony said after the race.
"Parked was the only place I did not really want to be," he said.
"But she relaxed beautifully out there and we dictated the pace a bit out there as well.
"She was geting a bit tired at the line but she has gone a terrific race for a horse who hasn't raced for about 9 months," he said.
Breckon Farms "The Perfect Ten" syndicate own Tickle Me Pink who trotted the mobile 2200m mobile in 2-46.3 with a last 800m in 58.1 and last 400m in 28.6 seconds.
Herlihy also won during the night with smart trotter Forget The Price Tag. The Majestic Son gelding did a similar job to Tickle Me Pink sitting parked for the last lap and proving too strong for a handy field of trotters. He currently sits in 4th place on the harness Jewels Leaderboard.
Harnesslink Media