Racing: Snooki an each-way chance

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Snooki gets a rare opportunity in tonight's Northern Oaks at Alexandra Park - the chance to race her own age group.

And while trainer-driver Tony Herlihy knows that will hardly be a drop in class, the diminutive filly's hard road to the classic may be one of her greatest assets.

Snooki actually took on her own age and sex when winning the Oaks prelude last Friday but before that all her racing this campaign has been against older horses as she wasn't staked for the fillies' rich Triple Crown in December.

That meant two starts ago taking on group one-winning colt Cyclone Prince and classy older rivals The Bucket List and Medley Moose in a serious Alexandra Park race, where she finished a brave third.

"It has been a bit harder finding the right lead-up races for her but to her credit she hasn't shirked them," says Herlihy.

"And we saw that last Friday when she was against some of these fillies and held on to win after a fast lead time.

"So she is fit, she has the draw and the 2700m won't bother her. The question is whether she can beat Venus Serena, who has been pretty impressive."

Snooki displayed good gate speed last week and could well be the leader after 600m, which would then give Herlihy options.

She headlines a strong team for him in many of tonight's features, with River Polka in race three rated his best hope.

"She will improve on her last run and I rate her chances this week," he said in a rare show of confidence.

Herlihy also rates The Fascinator (R10), who already has premier night winning form at The Park and his juvenile Express Stride (R2).

The latter hasn't been seen since New Year's Eve but pleased the boss in a recent workout.

"He is drawn slightly wide which can be tricky in juvenile races but I like him as a horse."

But he is not so sure what to expect from Fly Like An Eagle in the final lead-up to the Auckland Cup, the City Of Auckland Free-For-All (R8).

"He should be on the improve but I'd prefer he had drawn the front line so I could have used his gate speed," he said.

Herlihy flew back from Sydney last night after taking Irish Whisper to the Breakfast With The Stars at Menangle yesterday ahead of Sunday's A$200,000 Glenferrie Farm Challenge.

The National Trot winner has drawn wide on the front line and is likely to settle back early as Herlihy attempts to put him in the race.

"It looks like he will be out of the early rush but he has travelled over well so I will just have to hope for some luck."