Racing: Pair poised to strike again

If Tony Herlihy were considering a change of career he would make an ideal professional poker player.

Herlihy is widely regarded in harness racing as the driver you want on your horse when the big stake money is on offer.

The horseman dubbed "The Ice Man" due to his extremely calm mannerism and temperament was in superlative form at Alexandra Park on Friday night.

Herlihy drove Allegro Agitato and Delft to win both first-round qualifying heats of the Inter Dominion Trotters Series.

Herlihy was his typical reserved self after both victories.

Allegro Agitato overcame a wide barrier eight draw and a horror run three wide then parked outside the pace-setting Lyell Creek to register a superlative winning performance.

She lengthened stride effortlessly at the top of the home stretch and fought on in determined style to win by a neck over the fast-closing Sumthingaboutmaori.

A further neck away in third position was Lyell Creek.

The 6-year-old Sundon-sired mare covered the 2200 metres in 2.45.1 (mile rate 2.00.9) with closing 800 metre and 400 metre sectionals of 58.8 seconds and 29.8 seconds.

"Allegro Agitato was a little too fresh here on Friday night and she wouldn't relax and drop the bit outside Lyell Creek. I had no option but to let her run along over the closing 800 metres and that's why it looked like I was really pressuring Lyell Creek.

"She recovered well enough after the race and from barrier two in the second round of qualifying heats on Tuesday night I expect her to be very hard to beat again."

Allegro Agitato should dominate her next heat from the front as she has superb mobile gate speed. From barrier two she is drawn to race forward on the speed.

Delft was in an aggressive mood in the other qualifying trotters' heat on Friday night, settling handy to the pace before Herlihy sent the massive striding gelding forward to lead for the closing 1200 metres.

Delft increased the tempo of the race and won by a neck over Martina H who led out then trailed the winner.

A further three lengths away in third position was Play On.

Delft powered over the 2200 metres in 2.44.4 (mile rate 2.00.4) with closing 800 metre and 400 metre sectionals of 57.7 seconds and 29.3 seconds.

"He settled well in the field and when the pace eased I pulled him out and let him stride to the front.

"He was trucking along nicely in front and Martina H had her chance to beat us if she was good enough."

Delft will start from barrier two in his heat with in-form rivals Lyell Creek (barrier nine) and Sumthingaboutmaori (barrier 13) needing luck in the running to overcome tricky second-row draws.

So which horse will Herlihy drive in the $250,000 First Sovereign Inter Dominion Grand Final on March 18 at Alexandra Park?

"I'll let you know next Friday night after the final round of qualifying heats. It's too early to predict which horse is the better drive.

"A tough series like the Inter Dominion can really trip up a lot of the horses that compete."