Victorian youngster Herbert capitalised on good conditions at The Australian Golf Course to card a five-under 66, moving to the top of the leaderboard on nine under.
The 21-year-old made four of his six birdies on the front nine, dropping just the one shot at the last after being forced to lay-up.
Day is ominously poised after following up an opening 66 with a three-under 68, reeling off four birdies in a row on the back nine in a mixed round which included four bogeys.
The 2015 US PGA Championship winner was a joint-leader with Herbert after a sinking a long birdie putt at 15, but made a mess of an approach shot at the 17th to drop back to eight under.
Day said: “I haven’t won this year. This would be a nice little end-of-year cap, knowing that it wasn’t a disappointing year. A win is a win regardless of where you play. To have the Stonehaven Cup on the mantle would be great.
“I know I just don’t want to win one of these; I want to win multiple Stonehaven Cups and Australian Opens.”
Cameron Davis, the leader by two strokes after the first round, is two shots adrift of Herbert following a one-over 72.
Defending champion Spieth is back on one under after signing for a 71 and will have to produce something special this weekend to retain his title.
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