Christchurch trainer Michael House has engaged three-time New Zealand Cup-winning reinsman Tony Herlihy for longshot hope Seafield Raider in the $350,000 Canterbury Draught New Zealand Cup at Addington on Tuesday.
Herlihy has tasted cup success with Luxury Liner in 1988, Christopher Vance in 1991 and Chokin two years later, all of them prepared by south Auckland trainer Barry Purdon.
Herlihy had been without a cup drive until yesterday, as Purdon will again drive this year's cup favourite Holmes D G.
Purdon has driven Holmes D G, last season's Grand Circuit champion, to win over $1.2 million in stakes in the last three years.
Herlihy is happy to have picked up a cup drive, even though Seafield Raider was yesterday the rank outsider at 80-to-one on the TAB futures market among those guaranteed a start.
Meanwhile, tonight's $50,000 Pick 6 on the opening night of the New Zealand Metropolitan Trotting Club's Cup meeting will be backed up with another guaranteed $50,000 Pick 6 at Addington on Tuesday.
If it is not struck, it would jackpot into Tuesday's pool.
The Nigel McIntyre-trained pairing of Lavros Kisumu and Lavros Whirlwind are likely anchors tonight in the second and fifth Pick 6 legs.
Lavros Kisumu, who is yet to finish further back than second in three starts, just failed to hold Franco's Sanction in the C0-1 graduation final at Addington on November 3, and his chance improved markedly yesterday when Franco's Sanction was withdrawn.
- NZPA
Racing: Herlihy takes drive on cup longshot
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