By MICHAEl GUERIN
It is hard to work out exactly what was the most unbelievable part of Lyell Creek's historic victory in the $100,000 Rowe Cup at Alexandra Park last night.
Maybe it is the fact he is even racing here at all after being sent overseas three years ago, supposedly never
to be seen here again.
Maybe it is the fact he could overcome failing to acclimatise on his return to NZ - his first campaign back had to be aborted.
Then again, maybe it was the fact he could not just beat but absolutely punish the best trotters in New Zealand, winning our greatest trotting race by an ever-increasing massive margin.
Or maybe the most unbelievable part was that Lyell Creek left two of the hardest men in New Zealand racing with tears in their eyes.
That was the scene as trainer Tim Butt and driver Anthony Butt both struggled to contain their joy, their shock, their pleasure after the most stunning win in New Zealand harness racing history.
Sure, there may have been better wins - though probably not many - in terms of what actually happened on the track.
But considering what Lyell Creek did to even be in the race, what he did to win it was phenomenal.
"I can't believe it. I don't think any of us will see something like that again," Anthony Butt said of Lyell Creek's 7 3/4-length winning margin.
Butt had the best seat in the house as Lyell Creek exploded clear at the top of the straight, sending the large crowd into hysterics.
"That is the most enjoyable 200m of my driving career.
"To sit there behind a horse I love so much and enjoy it, knowing we had the race won, knowing what he had been through and how he had silenced his doubters.
"I have had bigger wins but this is the most satisfying."
The win left main owner Graham Bruton on the verge of hyper-ventilating as he came to terms with the enormity of the win.
The man with the mouth was almost speechless. "This is incredible and shows why nobody should ever doubt a champion."
The win was Lyell Creek's third Rowe Cup, but the second was more than three years ago. You can be sure no horse anywhere in the world would ever have won a group-one race in his homeland after spending most of the previous three years racing in another hemisphere.
Lyell Creek did it thanks to a beautiful drive from Butt who settled him in the one-one and then dominated the race from the bell, taking the lead. That left Lyell Creek a sitting duck but it was obvious with 400m to run he was home and the next 29 seconds were pure racing pleasure.
The win edged him close to $3 million in stakes, again unbelievable when you consider that before Lyell Creek came along NZ's previous richest trotter had failed to break the $1 million mark.
Alexandra Park commentator Alby Gain summed it up best.
"I have been calling races for 26 years and that is the best win I have ever seen. And the best win I will ever see."
And he was right. Because before last night Lyell Creek was A champion. Now he will forever be THE champion.
By MICHAEl GUERIN
It is hard to work out exactly what was the most unbelievable part of Lyell Creek's historic victory in the $100,000 Rowe Cup at Alexandra Park last night.
Maybe it is the fact he is even racing here at all after being sent overseas three years ago, supposedly never
AdvertisementAdvertise with NZME.