Racing: Boy, it's so lonely in a one-horse race

By MICHAEL GUERIN

Bella's Boy was just like any other 3-year-old little boy last night - he didn't enjoy having to play by himself.

The superstar racehorse created history by winning (if you could call it that) New Zealand's first one-horse race at Alexandra Park.

He earned $3100 just for turning up for the heat of the Australasian Breeders Crown. Most of the other horses in the elite series are already in Australia preparing for the final, so Bella's Boy was the only entry in last night's event.

But rather than enjoying the easiest race ever held, Bella's Boy was almost sulking.

"He got a bit lazy. He didn't like being out there by himself," said his champion trainer-driver Tony Herlihy.

Bella's Boy's confusion is understandable. Horses not only never race by themselves but they very rarely trackwork by themselves.

Then again, most of them don't get paid $3100 for a jog in the park.

That was what last night's 1700m event was always going to be, as Herlihy let Bella's Boy cruise away from the mobile starting gate before steadying him through the middle stages of the "race".

They did stride out over the last 400m in a respectable 29s, although his overall time of 2:13.8 was about 10 seconds slower than he could pace if he was serious.

But the bizarre sight did raise one question. Why was he running at all?

Bella's Boy could have walked around the track backwards and still won.

"I thought we might as well use it as a workout to get him fit," said Herlihy.

But he was a bit confused by the whole thing.

There was no betting on the race but a small crowd still turned up 45 minutes before the main races started to watch the historic event, which attracted media interest from the United States and Australia.

Not that the extra attention bothered Bella's Boy. Herlihy always thought he was destined for stardom so his stable name is Robbie.

After Robbie Williams, he explains.

Although course commentator Aaron White may not have had much to say during the race he produced a gem as Bella's Boy entered the home straight.

"As they come into the straight Tony Herlihy has a very confident peep over his shoulder," quipped White.

So why did Herlihy carry a whip in a race that wasn't a race?

"I wanted to have something to salute the judge with after we won."