Racing: All-clear after blood scare

Just An Excuse will get his chance at New Zealand Trotting Cup history.

The Waikato pacer, the winner of the previous two New Zealand Cups, was yesterday cleared to start in Tuesday's $400,000 race at Addington after the horse was found to have blood trickling from a nostril following a workout last Thursday.

It was thought Just An Excuse had suffered a lung haemorrhage during the workout and a decision on a cup start was reserved until after the horse worked again yesterday.

Trainer Robert Mitchell gave Just An Excuse a searching workout over about 2400m at Woodend Beach, near Christchurch. Veterinary surgeon Cliff McGrouther attended.

"The vet scoped him and gave him the all clear," said Mitchell.

Mitchell said there was no sign of a repeat haemorrhage but he remained at a loss to explain what happened last Thursday.

"To be truthful I don't know," Mitchell said.

"It may never happen again and it was just nice to get the all-clear today."

Mitchell said a lung haemorrhage was not uncommon in racehorses but many times it would go undetected.

"I'm told it happens in 70 per cent of horses but you don't always see it. The horse will bleed internally and no one would ever know."

There were signs all was not right with the horse last Thursday.

"I knew something wasn't right as the horse coughed a few times prior to training and again when jogging back."

Victory for Just An Excuse tomorrow will see him become just the third horse to win the New Zealand Trotting Cup three times. The other two were Indianapolis (1934-36) and False Step (1958-60).

While he faces a 10m handicap tomorrow, he was good enough to overcome that last season and beat champion pacer Elsu in the process.

It is debatable whether he is racing as well in the build-up to this season's cup and punters must now also factor in what effect last Thursday's problems - if any - will have on his chances.

What he does have on his side is a remarkable record at Addington, where he is unbeaten in four starts.

All of those have been feature races, with the 2002 Superstars Championship and last season's New Zealand Free-For-All his other Addington successes.

Also cleared for a cup start is Mi Muchacho, who suffered a cut to a leg after galloping twice in the cup trial at Addington last Wednesday.

Mi Muchacho worked at Addington yesterday morning and pleased trainer Richard Anderson with the way he handled the surface, which was believed to be the main reason behind his galloping last Wednesday.

The drama with the pair has had little effect on the Cup market, with both still steady at $5.50 last night.

They share that mark with Alta Serena in what is shaping as the most even cup field in years. Mi Muchacho had been the dominant favourite after wins in the Spring Cup and North Shore City Stakes but started to drift as other cup contenders won lead-up races and then moved out $1 after last Wednesday's trial nightmare.

* The latest market for the Cup, which will be run at 4.40pm tomorrow, is: $5.50 Mi Muchacho, Alta Serena, Just An Excuse; $7 Mainland Banner; $10 Bobs Blue Boy; $11 Howard Bromac; $12 Harnetts Creek, Likmesiah; $17 Myron; $25 Born Again Christian; $28 White Arrow; $30 London Legend, Presido; $40 Scorching; $80 Bella's Boy, Jackson Browne; $125 Linford Christie, Kiwi Kosby.

Back on track

* Defending champion Just An Excuse has been cleared to start tomorrow.

* He bled after trackwork on Tuesday but had recovered when examined by a veterinarian yesterday morning.

* Trainer Robert Mitchell believes Just An Excuse can still win.

* Fellow Waikato pacer Mi Muchacho has also been cleared by vets after suffering a minor injury in last Wednesday's cup trial.