The story regarding who will be driving Auckland Reactor in the $1.2 million (AUS.) Interdominion Grand Final Saturday, March 28 on Queensland's Gold Coast has taken yet another step
.
According to a story on stuff.co.nz, Tony Herlihy -- the horseman that piloted 'The Reactor' in his win this past Saturday in place of suspended horseman Mark Purdon -- has done a 180 regarding his plan to steer The Reactor in the rich final.
Herlihy had made the decision to driver Auckland Reactor in the final, thus relinquishing the driving and training duties of Interdominion finalist Gotta Go Cullen.
Since making that decision, Herlihy has now stated that he has reassessed the situation and that he will be retaining the position of trainer-driver on Gotta Go Cullen, thus turning down the opportunity to steer Auckland Reactor in the final. The connections of Auckland Reactor are now looking for someone else, on short notice, to steer the top charge.
The stuff.co.nz report states that Gotta Go Cullen's owner, Ian Dobson, was not impressed by Herlihy's initial decision to abandon Gotta Go Cullen and had called his lawyer in Christchurch with the intention of charging New Zealand's top reinsman with collusion.
"Tony rang me out of the blue and told me he'd slept on it and realised it wasn't the right thing to do," Dobson was quoted as saying.
The stuff.co.nz article also states that Dobson said the stewards had rejected a notification late last Saturday night that Gotta Go Cullen would be switched to another stable.
To read the stuff.co.nz report, which also contains many quotes from key players in the situation, click here.
(With files from stuff.co.nz)
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To the connections of
To the connections of Auckland Reactor: There is only one solution to this predicament,
"JOHN CAMPBELL"
Peter Heffering, are you listening????