Racing: Delft just gets better

In this sort of company two out of three ain't bad.

No, that isn't an assessment of how Delft has performed in his heats of the Interdominion Trotting Championships, even though he was two from three during the first week of the series.

Because Delft is also two from three in a far tougher contest. The battle against the best trotters Tony Herlihy has driven.

Herlihy shocked his rivals and punters last week when he chose Delft as his drive in tonight's $250,000 trotting final, even though he has been the caretaker trainer for Allegro Agitato for the past two months.

When that mare crushed Sumthingaboutmaori and Lyell Creek in the first trotting heat of the series she looked sure to be Herlihy's partner for the big dance.

Then along came Delft.

He was good on the first night, stunning on the second and the complete trotter on the last night of heats.

Delft continued the dual themes of his career since joining trainer Michelle Wallis back last spring - every time he has raced he has got better and the only times he hasn't won is when he gallops.

After starting from a self-imposed unruly starting position last Friday to win his 2700m heat in the fastest time of the night Delft has got everybody wondering just how good he is.

Herlihy knows the answer.

He should, after all our greatest driver has already driven three Interdominion Trotting Final winners. He says Delft is at least as good, if not better, than two of them.

Herlihy won Grand Finals on Diamond Field (1993), Pride Of Petite (1997) and Buster Hanover (1998) and says Delft is right up there with the boys.

"He is a very different type of horse to Diamond and Buster. They were more tractable and Buster was more reliable.

"But ability-wise he is every bit as good as them and maybe a bit better."

Which brings us to Pride Of Petite. "Well, she was something else. She was special."

Enough said.

Of course being good enough to win a Grand Final and actually winning one are two different things. But Herlihy is confident for tonight.

"He did it pretty easy last week and I think if they go harder that would suit him even better. I'd love to be able to drive him with a sit until the last lap because he has great speed.

"It won't be easy because these races never are but I think I have made the right choice. This is a very strong, fast horse."

Herlihy says if he can't win he'd love to see Allegro Agitato, a mare he has helped mould into a contender, get the prize.

"I think she can too. She has been good this week and she has the speed to give herself options."

But he admits the horse he has to beat is the horse he couldn't beat for five years - Lyell Creek.

Until the start of this carnival Herlihy had never driven the winner of a race against Lyell Creek, now he has done it twice.

"He hasn't had a lot go his way this carnival but he is a champion and Tim and Ants (Butt) know what they are doing. He'll be spot on."

Herlihy and Butt can expect to be tracking each other into the race at some stage, with both aware they can not give the other a big start.

They are likely to settle near last as Glenbogle, then Allegro Agitato and possibly Sammy Do Good head toward the front, ensuring a solid early pace.

Once the favourites move it is impossible to see their rivals trying to hold them out and they should be close enough to the action at the 800m to outstay their opponents.

And that is the difference between Delft and Lyell Creek and the rest.

All they need is no bad luck, the others need plenty of good luck.