Racing: Gloom descends over champ

By MICHAEL GUERIN

New Zealand's greatest trotter may have run his last race.

Champion Lyell Creek is in the spelling paddock with no guarantee he will return to the races.

The $2.8 million earner has struggled with a few minor problems since going to the trials at Ashburton last week.

And that has been enough for driver and part-owner Anthony Butt to admit Lyell Creek is only 50-50 to make it back to the track.

"I am not as confident now as I was a few weeks ago," said Butt.

"When he first got home he looked great and was working really well.

"But in the last week his coat has started to turn, like his body is confused about the seasons."

Lyell Creek left the Canadian summer two months ago to return home.

His body is now preparing for winter, while every other horse in the country is getting ready for summer.

He has also started to show slight discomfort when cornering in training.

"It may not be anything serious but he is too good to muck around with," said Butt.

"He will go into the paddock now and be there for a week or two then we will see how he is and start again.

"He still has an outside chance of maybe making the Auckland Cup carnival or at least the Rowe Cup.

"But we won't be bringing him back to the races unless we know he will be like his old self.

"We don't want to see him finishing fourth or fifth every race.

"I would rather see people remember him for the champion he is."

The loss further diminishes the awesome trotting firepower of trainer Tim Butt's stable.

Last season's four-year-old of the year, Sonofthedon, is also in the paddock and will not race this season after soreness which troubled him last February flared up again.