Racing: Elsu rampage to continue

By MICHAEL GUERIN

The scratching of two horses with no hope may have paved the way for Elsu to continue his winning rampage in the $100,000 New Zealand Messenger tonight.

The champion four-year-old will start a hot favourite even from a second-line draw in the group one event over 2700m, particularly as his opposition is shrinking all the time.

Two scratchings have reduced the field to 12 starters but it is not the actual depletion of the field but the way it affects the race that has so greatly aided Elsu.

Elsu will start from barrier four on the second line, which meant he faced starting behind rank outsider Operation Dynamic, the first emergency, or another long-odds chance Child In Time.

But both those southern pacers have been scratched and Elsu will now follow out his stablemate Pullover Brown, a fast beginner.

Pullover Brown looks certain to go forward from barrier four while another very fast beginner, Light And Sound, has drawn barrier five.

That means Elsu's driver David Butcher should have a large gap early to drive through and get handy without too much effort.

"I think the scratchings are a definite bonus for us," said Elsu's trainer Geoff Small.

"I know Pullover leaves the gate fast while Light And Sound does too, so maybe there will be a cart through for us early.

"Those decisions are left up to David.

"We all know anything can happen in racing but at least it looks like we won't get dragged back to last at the start."

That sort of bad luck in traffic would have appeared the only way Elsu could be beaten tonight after he jogged to victory over most of tonight's rivals in last Friday's $100,000 Taylor Mile.

That was a race he had to win after having the perfect trip and there were encouraging efforts from London Legend and Light And Sound.

But while they are better drawn than Elsu tonight he is simply better than them at this stage of their careers.

If he can settle handy he will outstay his rivals, with his record in races past 2400m staggering.

He has started in eight staying races for seven wins, his only defeat coming when he was a close second to Just An Excuse in the New Zealand Cup.

Small says Elsu will be even fitter for last Friday's victory.

"It seems like the run last week has tightened him up and I suppose it has too," said Small.

"These races are never easy to win but we don't have any excuses at this stage."

Light And Sound looks the biggest danger to the favourite, with his trainer-driver Mark Purdon adamant he could have beaten him last week had their runs been reversed.

"My horse pulled too hard sitting parked but he went great and had Elsu been parked with us sitting on his back I think we could have beaten him," said Purdon.

With Light And Sound coming into barrier five Purdon is sure to go forward and he is likely to reach the lead before the 2000m mark.

The question is how much energy he uses up to reach the pacemaking role and whether there is any mid-race pressure, which would greatly aid Elsu's staying abilities.

London Legend is perfectly drawn to sit just off the pace on the marker pegs and should be running on late while Maheer Lord is also an outstanding stayer who would come into calculations in a real war.