Racing: Forget tiredness, Allegro is all aggro

The news is all bad for rival trainers hoping Allegro Agitato's recent excursions may have taken the sting out of the top trotting mare leading into tomorrow's $35,000 Flying Mile at Cambridge.

Because caretaker trainer Tony Herlihy says the speedster couldn't be better.

Allegro Agitato raced just six days ago in Melbourne, thrashing Australia's best trotters in the A$100,000 Australian Trotting Grand Prix.

After recovering from that race, then flying back to Auckland, the mare could be excused for being tired but Herlihy, who will drive her tomorrow, says she is thriving.

"She seems great and I wouldn't worry about the travelling at all," said Herlihy. "She travelled well and has settled back in here well so we have no concerns."

That reflects just how far Allegro Agitato has come since last season when she was one of the most talented trotters in the country but also impossible to follow.

She has mentally strengthened, finding the line far better in her races, and has won three of her four mobile races this season, being unlucky after starting from the second line in the other.

"I haven't driven her in a race so far this season but she looks better than last year so she will be hard to beat in any race," said Herlihy.

Aiding her cause tomorrow is drawing barrier three, firstly because it will enable her to stay handy but even more importantly because it may give her the chance to stay in front of arch-rival Pompallier.

The latter's progress this season has mirrored that of Allegro Agitato as he is stronger both physically and mentally and the pair have emerged as the two best trotters in the country.

Pompallier can be forgiven his defeat at Alexandra Park last Friday when he was checked at the start and has the mobile form to be a major contender tomorrow.

He almost crossed Allegro Agitato at the start last time they clashed in a mobile race, at Addington on November 11, but faces a far tougher task trying that tomorrow as the run to the first bend from the Cambridge mile start point is one of the shortest in New Zealand.

He has also only had the one mobile start this season, compared with Allegro Agitato's four.

The field is the strongest trot put together in New Zealand this season, with the enigmatic Delft, speedster Iwi Alex, veteran Gold and track specialists Ado's Invasion and No More Gold also in the line-up.

All of them are trifecta chances but with the two favourites drawn well it is hard to envisage one of them not winning.

* Herlihy suggests River Waltz will be his leading chance at Alexandra Park tonight.

The son of Christian Cullen has been beaten just once in six starts and was below peak fitness when he won fresh-up two weeks ago.

"Even though it is a very good field he will take some beating."