KEY POINTS:
Tony Herlihy is worried.
This is not a common emotion for The Iceman, especially on a racetrack, where he has won more races than any other New Zealander.
Herlihy's natural calm is behind so many of his 2800-plus career wins, his ability to relax during racing's most intense occasions.
And occasions don't get any more intense than our first $1.2 million harness race, the New Zealand Trotting Cup at Addington tomorrow.
But while Herlihy knows in Gotta Go Cullen he has the horsepower to win the Holy Grail, he also knows their chances could end the second the race starts.
Gotta Go Cullen blew the start of last Monday's Kaikoura Cup so badly a repeat tomorrow would give him no chance of victory.
That continued his personal rollercoaster of standing start performances, missing away badly in two early season trials, then, at his first race start this season, stepping brilliantly to win the Kumeu Cup next time out followed by the Kaikoura "hissy fit".
What perplexes Herlihy is that even he can't predict which Gotta Go Cullen is going to turn up tomorrow.
"He really shouldn't have galloped like that at Kaikoura," said a disappointed Herlihy. "He went enormous afterwards and I couldn't be happier with him. But that isn't going to matter if he doesn't step."
To make matters worse, Gotta Go Cullen has drawn barrier two, sandwiched between erratic mare Special Ops and arch-rival Changeover, hardly a relaxing scenario.
He will have to come into line early and wait for the rest of his rivals, all without much help from a starter's attendant, which was crucial in helping him step away in the Kumeu Cup.
Herlihy wanted Gotta Go Cullen to draw wide, where he could come into line late, be moving forward and then go.
That is the key. He has to be moving forward when the tapes go. If he is going backwards it could be a problem.
Herlihy's doubts, shared by punters, have pushed Gotta Go Cullen out from $6 to $8 in fixed odds markets, which will be outstanding value if he steps safely.
As an Auckland Cup winner on March 7 last season he is a proven group one stayer and at his best he is little inferior, if any, to Cup favourite Changeover.
For Herlihy, rated our greatest reinsman ever, tomorrow provides a rare chance to train a New Zealand Cup winner, something which will mean more than any one of his record-setting driving successes.
So, are there are tricks, gleaned from three decades in the sulky, to help Gotta Go Cullen over his performance anxiety?
"Not really," he admits.
"You just try and keep them calm, relaxed, going forward. I think being amongst other horses might actually help, maybe he will want to race them early and it will get his mind on the job," he says, sounding less convinced with every syllable.
"But really, it is up to him."
ARCH RIVALS
Gotta Go Cullen might have to beat Changeover to win tomorrow's New Zealand Cup but just having him in the race is a good sign.
The two glamour stallions have met 20 times in their careers, with Changeover holding an 11-9 advantage.
Getting together seems to bring out the best in the pair, though, because on the 20 occasions they have met, one or the other has won 19 of them.
The only time they both tasted defeat in a race was at Alexandra Park two years ago when they were narrowly beaten by the now-deceased Fergiemack.
Ironically, the latter was trained and driven by Tony Herlihy, who now partners Gotta Go Cullen.
