Racing: Auckland Reactor offer withdrawn

Auckland Reactor may return to the track. Photo / Greg Bowker

A deal to bring former pacing superstar Auckland Reactor back to New Zealand has fallen through.

The major New Zealand stud which is believed to have offered more than $2 million for the glamour pacer has withdrawn their offer, leaving the future of the 5-year-old in the balance.

Stud officials confirmed to the Herald yesterday that they had walked away from the deal, which became messy after a minor dispute between them and the horse's North American-based owners over one of the technicalities of the deal.

Had Auckland Reactor returned to New Zealand it is likely it would have been only as a stallion, ending his race career.

But exactly what happens next with the great pacer remains up in the air.

It appears he will need a problem with his airway fixed if he is to race successfully again, whether that be here or in North America.

Unless he can win at least one major race in the States he has no commercial value there as a stallion and feedback to the Herald from prominent breeders here has been mixed at best.

The safest option appears to be a return to New Zealand for a racing campaign aimed at restoring his lustre in this part of the world.

The problem is if Auckland Reactor retires this season he could not realistically stand at more than $5000, which after expenses means an awful lot of mares will need to be served to clear $2 million.

And that is competing in a stallion market flooded like never before by the likes of Christian Cullen, Bettor's Delight, Art Major, Mach Three, Courage Under Fire, Elsu and newcomers, like Changeover, to mention just a few.

But if he is to return as a racing proposition he would need to have his throat problem fixed and be back in this country inside a month to have a realistic shot at the New Zealand Free-For-All, Miracle Mile or Victoria Cup as pre-Christmas targets.

While Auckland Reactor's future is uncertain, fellow Kiwi pacer Harley Earl has taken a step closer to the biggest win of his career by qualifying for Friday night's A$200,000 Chariots Of Fire in Sydney.

The 4-year-old finished a close-up third in the Paleface Adios Sprint at Menangle last Friday, earning his spot in the Chariots on the same track this week. His task has been made easier by drawing barrier two, giving him a great shot at ending trainer Brendon Hill's wonderful season on a high.

Harley Earl has been listed as equal favourite for the race, alongside Victorian mare Make Mine Cullen.

Canterbury pacer The Band On The Run is first emergency after being nosed out of the final qualifying spot.

DEAL OFF

* A deal to bring Auckland Reactor back to New Zealand has fallen through.
* The major stud which made the offer, believed to be more than $2 million, has pulled out.
* Canterbury pacer Harley Earl will start one of the favourites in Friday night's A$200,000 Chariots Of Fire