Racing: Reactor's backers stand strong

The men behind Auckland Reactor say his expensive failure on his US debut needs to be kept in perspective.

They are not hitting the panic button even though the Kiwi star could finish only sixth in the US$32,000 invitation pace at The Meadowlands on Sunday (NZ time).

Auckland Reactor picked the wrong race in which to make his much-anticipated North American debut, with the winner pacing the fourth-fastest time in Meadowlands history.

Real Joke clocked a painful 1:47.6, which is lightning quick even by North American standards.

That left Auckland Reactor, who raced midfield, in oxygen debt at the top of the home straight and he faded to sixth as the even-money favourite.

The New Zealand face of the Auckland Reactor syndicate, John Curtin, said, like everybody else, he was initially disappointed but felt much more comfortable after talking to trainer Kelvin Harrison and driver Brian Sears.

"They were both happy and not concerned at all," said Curtin.

"Things have to be put in perspective. A mile that fast is not the best place to start a new phase of his career but nobody could have predicted that."

Auckland Reactor blew very hard after the race but will back up in an easier free-for-all at the Chester track this weekend.

"What happened on Sunday would be like a horse having his first start for the season in the New Zealand Cup, because they went that fast.

"So when you realise that you understand he wasn't outclassed, he just needed the run.

"He will have another one and then he should be ready for the bigger races."

The defeat did, however, raise the possibility Auckland Reactor could be seen back in New Zealand before he retires.

While nobody close to the two-time Horse of the Year will admit it, two or three more defeats in North America - and particularly if he is outclassed at the elite level - will all but ruin any chance Auckland Reactor has of a commercial stud career there.

With his New Zealand career having ended on a low the most logical step would be to return home, possibly to be aimed at the Interdominions in Christchurch in March to boost his stud career here.

While a change of plans that dramatic is yet to even be spoken about publicly, it has to be the most realistic, and possibly only, Plan B.

Meanwhile, the horses who will get a chance to follow in Auckland Reactor's hoof prints as Harness Jewels winners have been decided.

The top 12 horses in each division for the $1.5 million Jewels at Cambridge on Saturday week were decided after last Sunday's cutoff point.

The next step is for the connections of the top 20 in each division to be asked to declare their interest before the fields are narrowed down to 12 with one emergency on Friday.

That is when the all-important barrier draw will take place. One Jewels favourite will be staying put, after the proposed sale of 3-year-old Kahdon to Australia fell through.

She will remain with trainer Paul Nairn for the Jewels and then could head to Australia for a winter campaign, possibly to be trained by Victorian horseman Chris Lang.