Racing: Herlihy to be Mr 3000

Tony Herlihy drives One Over Kenny. Photo / Greg Bowker

It is fitting that Tony Herlihy's next step towards New Zealand racing's most elite milestone could come with Pembrook Benny at Cambridge tonight.

Herlihy is just 10 wins way from becoming the first New Zealand horseman to partner 3000 career winners in this country, a mark that has never even been threatened by another.

He sits on 2990 career wins here, and while he has driven plenty more in Australia, the 3000 mark in New Zealand is the one that looms largest for the driver known as The Iceman.

"I hadn't thought about it much because I didn't realise how close I was," said Herlihy.

"It sounds like a lot of wins when you put it that way. But I don't really think about it like that because you want to win every time you go out there and it is a thrill every time you do.

"You get a buzz for different reasons. Sometimes it's because you train them as well, or might have bred them or picked them as a yearling.

"And other times because you know how hard another trainer has worked on a particular horse.

"But more often than not it is the owners who you get a real thrill for. It means so much to people to get a winner and it's great to be part of that."

Now he trains so successfully, Herlihy doesn't drive as much as he used to, bypassing much of the Central Districts circuit. He also used to be a regular visitor to the now closed Hutt Park.

So while his average seasonal tally has dropped from a decade ago his figures are even more impressive because he drives mostly at Alexandra Park, Cambridge or Addington (during the major carnivals), where the standards of driving and competition for winning chances are world class.

The respect he has earned is summed up by the fact that while freakish young talent Dexter Dunn may win the next 10 premierships, Herlihy is still rated the best driver in the country by the majority of horseman you speak to, including Dunn.

"I've got a way to go to catch up to where Tony is at, and that's being honest," Dunn told the Herald yesterday.

With five meetings in the next three weeks - he will miss Thames on Sunday - Herlihy could reach the 3000 by the end of the month.

However, next month is more likely and it would be fitting if it comes at his home track, Alexandra Park.

Just as fitting will be if one of the next steps toward the milestone comes behind Pembrook Benny in the $50,000 Cambridge Flying Mile tonight.

It is the track where Herlihy drove his first winner, Gymea Gold, 33 years ago yesterday.

But, more importantly, Pembrook Benny is co-trained by Barry Purdon, Herlihy's brother-in-law who has had such a huge influence on his career, whether training solely or with the incomparable Roy Purdon.

While some of those winners were so dominant a kid with a stablehand's licence could have won on them, Pembrook Benny is indicative of the type of horse Herlihy has helped to the winner's circle.

While he has always been a good horse, Pembrook Benny suffered a setback leading into the New Zealand Cup and looked down on confidence, needing an easy kill a month ago.

Herlihy took the reins and conjured up two front-running wins, beguiling his rival drivers while instilling confidence in his horse.

That same confidence will come in handy tonight because if Pembrook Benny can cross to the lead from barrier three then the Flying Mile is his to lose on a track where around 90 per cent of sprint races are won by the leader or trailer.

"He is racing well but there is a bit of speed on the front line so it won't be easy," says Herlihy, conservative as always. Some things don't change, even after 2990 winners.

CHAMPION DRIVER'S NEW ZEALAND CAREER

First winner: Gymea Gold, Cambridge, January 6, 1978.

Career wins in New Zealand: 2990.

Shortest win price: Chokin, $1 to win at Alexandra Park, January 10, 1994.

Longest win price: Trendy Marie, $85.60 to win at Alexandra Park, July 26, 1980.

Longest group winner price: Badlands Bute, $43.35 to win Great Northern Derby, Alexandra Park, December 17, 2004.

Major wins: 59 group one wins; 73 group two wins: 43 group three wins: 43; 11 listed race wins.

NZ career highlights: Eight Auckland Cups; three New Zealand Cups; six NZ Free-For-Alls; five Messenger Championships; four Rowe Cups; three Northern Derbys.

Oddities: Has trained and driven horses promoted to win a Sires' Stakes Final (Fergiemack) and Harness Jewels (Merckx).

Easiest win: Bella's Boy (in a one-horse race), Alexandra Park, June 27, 2003.

HISTORY BECKONS

* Tony Herlihy is 10 wins away from becoming the first New Zealand horseperson with 3000 wins here.

* He drove his first winner 33 years ago yesterday.

* He partners Pembrook Benny in the Flying Mile tonight.

He has driven 59 group one winners in New Zealand