Talent not the problem for Doo You Want Me at Alexandra Park tonight

By Michael Guerin 

Doo You Want Me is a big horse who comes with a big question mark next to his name at Alexandra Park tonight.

And it is has nothing to do with his talent.

Doo You Want Me (R6, No.6) is the only rep in-form trainer Tony Herlihy takes to tonight’s mini meeting of just six races, with several of his best horses already in the south preparing for Cup week.

Already the winner of eight of his 19 career starts, Doo You Want Me is still only a four-year-old so looks certain to end up in open class next season, specially judging by his huge recovery last start.

He galloped in a similar field, settled at least 30m from the leader yet still only went down by a nose.

So talent isn’t the problem for the big boy even from his 15m handicap tonight, those standing start manners are.

Doo You Want Me has galloped away in both his standing starts and Herlihy, always the realist, says he isn’t confident he can expect much improvement in the manners department tonight.

“I am sure he will get them [standing starts] right at some stage but he hasn’t really looked like stepping away yet,” he explains.

“At least on Friday he doesn’t have barrier one, which I think was a bit of the problem last start because the tape gave him a bit of a fright but I would be more confident with a few more stands under his belt.”

If Doo You Want Me does step away and settle handy, particularly in front of main dangers Little Spike and Captain Sampson, also both on the 15m mark, he is the clear horse to beat.

But if he settles behind them then he faces a far different challenge as both Captain Sampson comes out of the main open pace last Friday and has raced in better races before.

Like Doo You Want Me, Captain Sampson doesn’t have a great standing start record (1-win-from-6-starts) but he has usually been relatively safe, with his unplaced runs including last season’s Auckland Cup and when checked starting off a handicap at Cambridge. 

If he steps well tonight he could prove to be over the odds as he is a horse who has been luckless for much of the last year.

Herlihy looks one of the drivers to follow tonight, like most Fridays at The Park, as he also partners winning chances in Brienne (R2), Critical Image (R3), Shesgold (R4) and Cyclone Rebel (R5).

He was also thrilled with his exciting juveniles Lucky Luka and Belle Biddy with their close up runs at Ashburton on Monday as they countdown to their NZ Cup week Sires’ Stakes Finals.

Herlihy also has last Friday’s stunning Alexandra Park winner Our Col heading to Addington next Friday night as one of the favourites in a stacked NZ Trotting Oaks.