Racing: Lyell Creek seeks redemption while Varenne eyes second Elitlopp

By MICHAEL GUERIN

Lyell Creek won't have to wait long to get a chance to put his season back on track.

The Kiwi trotting hero picked just about the worst time to produce an early-race gallop, going into the first bend in last week's US$200,000 ($430,000) Cutler Memorial at the Meadowlands in New Jersey.

The Cutler was the first major trot of the North American season and Lyell Creek had no chance after his early mistake, doing remarkably well to recover for seventh and still trot a 1:54.4 mile.

Driver Ron Pierce admitted that Lyell Creek had only himself to blame, with one of his legs striking the other and forcing him off stride.

It is the second time Lyell Creek has galloped in a race this season, which may seem hard to understand for his New Zealand fans used to his faultless form at home.

But new trainer Brett Pelling has changed Lyell Creek's shoes to lighter ones to eke more speed out of the veteran and that increases his risk of his legs touching and causing him to gallop.

Lyell Creek will contest a US$85,000 ($182,000) heat of the Classic Series at the Meadowlands and has already qualified for the US$250,000 ($535,000) final a week later.

"We are still very happy with him and the break last week was only a minor thing," said co-trainer Nifty Norman. "All we are hoping for now is a good draw in the next couple of weeks."

Lyell Creek's chances are also likely to be boosted by the return to his sulky of world champion horseman John Campbell.

To make matters worse, owner Graham Bruton travelled from Thailand to New Jersey to watch the race.

"I should give up coming to see him," Bruton said. "He goes so much worse when I am here. I might just stay away from now on."

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While Lyell Creek has gone winless for the past six weeks no such problems have befallen world champion Varenne.

The unbelievable Italian trotter has now been beaten only once in 18 months and is rated a $1.50 chance to win Sunday's Elitlopp in Sweden.

Varenne smashed the track record in the Elitlopp last season and has drawn barrier seven in his heat this week.

He is likely to clash with 2000 Elitlopp winner Victory Tilly and last season's Hambletonian winner, Scarlet Knight, in the final, which will be held two hours after the second heat. Bookmakers won't hear of Varenne being beaten. Even before his heat, he is paying just $1.30 to win the Elitlopp final.

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New Zealand's latest open class graduate isn't for sale.

Trainer Les Pettifer has had plenty of interest in Falcon Rise since the gelding graduated to the elite ranks at Alexandra Park two weeks ago.

While figures as high as $300,000 are being bandied about as a likely price for Falcon Rise, Pettifer doesn't want to know.

"When the agents ring I tell them to not even bother naming their price," said Pettifer.

"Now he is open class we want to race him in the best races. And you can't put a price on that sort of fun."

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New Zealand's richest juvenile fillies race just got richer. The connections of three fillies - Classical, Champagne Princess and Rapid Fire Franco - paid the $7500 late entry fee into Friday's group one event at Alexandra Park, boosting the stake to $115,000.

That is a huge rise on the $60,000 the race was worth just four years ago.

The Caduceus will also see a reunion of trainer Neil Brady and driver Peter Ferguson, who will partner Brady's filly Lotta Flyin because the trainer is in Australia.

Ferguson was the driver of Brady's champion filly Elect To Live early this season until Christmas, when Brady took the reins himself.