Tony Herlihy (MNZM) will be training two good chances in this year’s Rowe Cup and has chosen to drive Temporale over One Over Da Moon in the $150,000 Group One feature at Alexandra Park on April 28.
“They are both progressing along nicely, but because Suzanne (wife) has a share in Temporale I will probably end up driving him in the Rowe Cup.
“The other one is a bit more experienced and even though he hasn’t had much racing in him lately he tends to go well in a fresh state up here. I was pleased with his workout win on Saturday,” Herlihy said.
One Over Da Moon and stable junior, Tony Cameron won a five-horse 2700m stand at Pukekohe on Saturday in 3:37.4 (mile rate 2:09.5) and came home in 57.6 and 28.8.
The 6-year-old Majestic Son entire started from 40m behind and had one-and-a-quarter lengths and one-and-three-quarter lengths to spare over place-getters and 20m handicappers, KD Hall and Shady Sadie.
That was One Over Da Moon's first run back since finishing 10th in the Dominion Trot at Addington Raceway on November 11.
All-up he's won 21 of his 63 starts and placed in 10 others for $322,861 in lifetime stakes. One Over Da Moon never raced in last year's Rowe Cup but finished fourth behind Stent the year before.
"I was happy with his run on Saturday. He seems well within himself. It will be a bit of an ask without having had much racing but like I said before he seems to race well in a fresh state.
"He will have his first start, most probably alongside Temporale in the (Group One $80,000) Anzac Cup the week before the Rowe Cup," Herlihy said.
He said he was also happy with Temporale’s second behind fellow 4-year-old Lemond in the feature trot at Alexandra Park last Friday – the $16,000 Haras des Trotteurs Mobile for the R81 and faster square gaiters.
"He went well and is trotting nicely at the moment. He's got a few Rowe Cups ahead of him whereas the other one has 'been there and done that'.
"Temporale is a promising young trotter who only needs time. He's certainly got the all-round game to go a bit further," Herlihy said.
"I was really pleased with his Group Three win the start before," he added.
Temporale proved too strong for The Mighty Johnson and Prime Power in that $26,000 Majestic Horse Floats Greenlane Cup. He won by five lengths and trotted the 2700m stand from in front in 3:29.9 (mile rate 2:05) and home in 58.4 and 29.3.
Temporale has only ever been out of the money twice in 16 starts. He has recorded five wins and nine placings for $86,232 in stakes.
Temporale has never lined up in an Anzac or Rowe Cup previously, but One Over Da Moon did finish fifth in the Anzac Cup two years ago behind Sheemon.
“It would be nice to have them both start in such a prestigious race like the Rowe Cup. I am hoping they both get in,” he said.
Herlihy has never won any of the previous five Anzac Cups but did train and drive One Over Da Moon’s dam – One Over Kenny to victory in the the Rowe Cup in 2007.
He’s also driven three other Rowe Cup winners – Gee du Jour (1991), Diamond Field (1994), and One Over Kenny (2009).
Only Peter Wolfenden has driven more Rowe Cup winners (five). They were behind Jewel Derby (1960), Single Cash twice (1968), Single Cash (also again in 1968), Framalda (1977) and Special Pride (1980).
Duane Ranger
