New Zealand's most expensive racehorse Auckland Reactor has been struck down by a mystery problem that has forced him out of this Saturday's Harness Jewels at Cambridge.
The three-year-old pacer was recently sold to North American-based owners for $3.5million and was to have had his first start forhis new owners in his $200,000 division of the Jewels series on Saturday.
But co-trainer Mark Purdon has been forced to scratch the champion after he started to show signs of soreness in his trackwork.
"We don't really know what is wrong with him but he is struggling to hit out when he is being worked," said Purdon.
"He was a bit stiff on Saturday and has got worse the last two days so we had no choice but to scratch him."
Auckland Reactor will have a quiet week in Auckland before returning to Purdon's Canterbury stable next week for a full veterinary examination, possibly next Thursday.
Auckland Reactor was the $1.30 favourite for the mile race on Saturday but if there is a silver lining to his cloud for Purdon it is the fact stablemate Fiery Falcon will now start favourite in that race.
The Jewels, in only its second year, will be the richest raceday ever held in the northern region, with total stakes of $1.5million.
