Racing: Big plunge on Lyell after perfect draw

By MICHAEL GUERIN

Lyell Creek got the draw and the TAB soon got the money.

That was the story of yesterday's barrier draw for the $100,000 Rowe Cup, the final group one trot of the season which will be the highlight of an incredible Alexandra Park programme on Friday night.

The champion trotter drew barrier six in the 3200m thriller, although not before putting a scare through owner Graeme Bruton.

Bruton was called forward to choose an envelope containing the draw and first thought he had picked barrier nine, until he realised he was reading the piece of paper upside down.

He and driver Anthony Butt were thrilled with the draw.

"I don't think there are too many horses drawn inside him who would try and hold him out if Ants tries to get the lead so it works out well," said Bruton.

"But we leave all that up to Ants, nobody knows the big races like he does."

Lyell Creek soon shortened to $3.25 on the TAB final field fixed odds but that lasted just minutes as a bet of $8000 on Lyell Creek saw his odds tumble to $2.75.

The confidence in the Lyell Creek camp was boosted greatly by his flashing second to Ado's Invasion in last Friday's City Of Sails Trot.

That was in great contrast to his dramatic defeat at Addington two weeks earlier in what was his first New Zealand start since a 30-month Northern Hemisphere campaign.

Aiding Lyell Creek's cause is the fact Ado's Invasion has drawn the second line (barrier 13) on Friday while one of the few trotters likely to take him on for the lead, Victorian speedster Andandon, has drawn the inside of the second line.

That promotes a scenario where Lyell Creek could work to the lead cheaply and take an enormous amount of catching.

There were better draws for consistent Victorian Our First Jewel (two) and greatly-improved mare Lanson (four) which saw them both tighten in the market.

But Martina H (eight) and Sundon's Luck (nine) drifted slightly after drawing outside Lyell Creek.

While Lyell Creek is a warm favourite at $2.75 that pales in comparison with the TAB's respect for champion pacer Elsu.

He faces one of the toughest tasks of his career after drawing awkwardly at one on the second line - but is still rated a red hot $1.45 favourite.

"We know it is a tough draw but every time we take him on he keeps winning," TAB bookmaker Kevin Gutschlag said of Elsu.

"He has really been stinging us as an anchor in people's multi bets so we are keeping him short, as he always is on the tote."

That means New Zealand Cup winner Just An Excuse is a $6 second favourite in a race where some of New Zealand's best pacer are paying huge odds.

Almost as short is outstanding young trotter Zuri, paying $1.50 in the Great Northern Trotting Derby.