New Zealand champion trotter Lyell Creek has drawn wide for the $US243,000 ($578,000) Titan Cup in the United States tomorrow.
Lyell Creek drew barrier seven in the nine-horse field for the one mile race to be run at the Meadowlands track in New Jersey.
But some of his main rivals have not fared so well either. Dream Vacation, last week's elimination winner when Lyell Creek finished fifth, has drawn six, while $US2.4 million earner Magician is to start from barrier eight.
Co-owner, trainer, and driver Anthony Butt believes there is a two to three lengths improvement in Lyell Creek from last week's race.
Lyell Creek became fired up in his fresh state last week and threw a shoe at the start of the elimination race. Butt was not using that as an excuse, but said it did not help.
Butt's Christchurch-based brother Tim said Anthony was rapt with the horse who recently campaigned in Scandinavia.
"He is more confident now than he ever was in Oslo (Norway) and Sweden," Tim Butt said.
"It is a bit like when he was there with Under Cover Lover three years ago.
"He knows that Lyell Creek is as good as them, but you just need to be 100 per cent on the night, and have that bit of good racing luck to win a big one."
Lyell Creek also has a minor gear change for Saturday's feature.
"Ants (Anthony) is taking the full blinds off after last week, and replacing them with half-blinds," Tim Butt said.
The full field for the Titan Cup is: Sundown Score (1), Fool's Goal (2), Dr Ronerail (3), Victory Margin (4), Monte Hall (5), Dream Vacation (6), Lyell Creek (7), Magician (8), Plesac (9).
- NZPA
Racing: Champ draws wide again in US feature
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