Pembrook Benny could give Herlihy his 3000th winner.
Champion trainer Barry Purdon hopes his brother-in-law doesn't drive a winner for four hours at Alexandra Park tonight.
Not that he wants Tony Herlihy to have an bad night at the office, he just wouldn't mind his first winner for the night coming in race nine.
Herlihy goes into tonight's
meeting on the cusp of completing the greatest milestone in New Zealand racing, becoming the first horseperson to train, ride or drive 3000 winners in this country.
He sits on 2999 and has some serious chances tonight, none more so than Pembrook Benny, who will start a warm favourite in race nine.
And Purdon, who co-trains Pembrook Benny, would love to be involved in Herlihy's 3000th New Zealand winner.
"Whatever happens will happen and Tony could drive a winner before our race," said Purdon.
"But to be honest, I'd be chuffed if he could drive it behind Benny.
"Tony has driven so many great horses for us over the years and plenty of not-so-great horses that he still got home.
"So I think it would be special for us if it came in our colours."
Especially as those colours were once owned by training legend Roy Purdon, who has played such a huge role in Herlihy's career before they became even more feared when Roy and Barry went into partnership.
Herlihy has driven horses like Christopher Vance, Luxury Liner and Comedy Lad to mention just a few in the colours and if he hasn't reined No. 3000 before Pembrook Benny rolls on to the track the perfect milestone moment could eventuate.
Pembrook Benny has returned to his absolute best form in the past two months, with two front-running wins at Alexandra Park and a 1:53.7 mile at Cambridge last start.
He looked in perfect physical condition beating race rival Courage To Rule at the Alexandra Park workouts last Wednesday and Purdon is thrilled with him.
"I couldn't be happier with him and I'd like to win this to go into Auckland Cup week with his confidence up and commanding some respect."
Amazingly considering he has run fourth in a New Zealand Cup, Pembrook Benny has drawn inside key rivals Five Star Anvil and Courage To Rule under the stakes-based preferential draw conditions of the race and that leaves Gomeo Romeo has his most serious threat.
The 4-year-old might be the most improved pacer in the country and has blazing gate speed but whether he will want to get into an early war with Pembrook Benny is doubtful.
However, linking the pair in a quinella looks one of the bets of the night.
Many will be tempted to anchor Pembrook Benny in the $50,000 Pick6 as tonight's fields are very even, indicative of what lies ahead in the next month.
The meeting is an Auckland Trotting Club one so is, therefore, at the elite stake levels, meaning most fields are at capacity, which should ensure rare value throughout the night.
Earlier in the night, Purdon rates Beach Buggy a major winning chance in race four.
The 4-year-old has raced in far stronger fields in his past three starts but drops back to what is effectively a maiden race tonight so looks perfectly suited.
Another feature is the high number of second-tier 3-year-olds of both sexes hoping to push their claims for the Pascoes Oaks and Woodlands Derby preludes on March 4.
Magic milestone
* Tony Herlihy should drive his 3000th New Zealand winner at Alexandra Park tonight.
* Champion trainer Barry Purdon would love that moment to come with his pacer charge Pembrook Benny in race nine.
* The open-class pacer looks perfectly placed and trialled well last Wednesday.
