Herlihy magic has helped Final Change
Garrick Knight - Raceform • October 9th, 2025 3:30 PM
There’s nothing like a little Tony Herlihy magic to boost the confidence of a horse.
That’s certainly been the case with Final Change, who returns to Alexandra Park on Friday night with two excellent outings in his immediate form line.
The Arna Donnelly-trained three-year-old won three races in Palmerston North earlier this year, but he’s taken the step up to metro company recently, and Herlihy has been a big part of that.
“He’s a nice little horse, but it’s certainly helped him getting a couple of perfect drives from Tony those last couple of starts,” Donnelly told RaceForm.
In both runs – back on September 12 in a grade race and then September 26 in the $35,000 Metro Series Final – he drew badly and was driven for luck. Both times Herlihy cut corners and pierced him through tight gaps to fly up the markers for a win and an unlucky second, and both were at long odds.
Will punters let him go this week (Race 5) in a smaller field from a better draw, with Herlihy piloting once again?
“It’s a tricky wee field with Lady Of The Light and David Butcher’s two – Hooray Henry and You Little Beauty – who have both been racing really well.
“But he’s had experience against these types in the past, before the ratings changed a few months ago, and he held his own.”
Later in the night, Donnelly has a pair of starters in the $15,000 Rising Foundation 2YO Non-Winners Mobile Pace. Debutant Ultimate Lad went up at bolters’ odds on Tuesday, but stablemate Opa’s Girl opened as the second favourite.
She debuted at Cambridge on September 18 and was well supported but lost her compass shortly after the start and ran to the outside fence, losing a stack of ground. Her recovery for third was impressive but no consolation for punters.
“It took me by surprise, because she’s always been pretty professional in all her work, so all I can do is turn the page on it.
“Her work since has been great and she is a lot better the Auckland way, so hopefully we can get back on track this week.
“Ultimate Lad is quite a big horse, but he shouldn’t disgrace himself.”
Earlier in the night, Donnelly thinks Ragnar Lothbrok can go close again while Dragonstone just needs to put her best foot forward.
“Ragnar has been racing super. He’s a one-trick pony – a sit-sprinter – that keeps getting hammered with bad draws. It’s the same again this week, but with an ounce of luck, I wouldn’t be surprised if he won it.
“Dragonstone is an enigma, but she generally does step away pretty clean which will help over the 2200 metres.”
Donnelly felt Opa’s Girl was her best chance of the night.
In other stable news, promising two-year-old Critical Image headed south on Tuesday morning for upcoming feature racing, accompanied by fast-class stablemate The Surfer, who will tackle next week’s Canterbury Classic at Addington.
Donnelly has also kept her slot in the second running of the $500,000 Velocity at Addington in November, though she doesn’t have a suitable horse this year.
“I’ve basically kept it for a bit of advertising and so I get first option for next year, when I expect to have some strong candidates.
“I’m in active discussions with the connections of a couple of Australian horses for this year, so we will what comes of that.”
