Racing: Star keeps out rivals so race cancelled

Elsu has become a victim of his own brilliance.

The Interdominion champion was to have returned to racing at Alexandra Park on Friday but will have to wait another week after his comeback race was abandoned.

The Auckland Trotting Club received just four nominations for their main pacing handicap on Friday, with rival trainers not keen to tackle the champion.

Only Sly Flyin, Alta Serena and Attorney General were also nominated for the $24,000 event, forcing ATC racing boss Robert Death to cancel it.

"We hate dropping any race, particularly ones with the big names in them but we also can't run them with just four horses," said Death.

Friday's race was to have been Elsu's lead-up to next week's $100,000 City Of Auckland free-for-all, a race Death is adamant will go ahead.

"It is a group one race and we have built a lot of our promotions around having Elsu and Lyell Creek [Rowe Cup] on track that night so I am sure it will go ahead.

"I expect we will get the same four horses we had nominated this week but also some of the four-year-olds which are starting in the Messenger this week."

While disappointed by the abandonment, Elsu's trainer Geoff Small understood the ATC's move and said he did not think it would affect Elsu's chances next week.

"I was thrilled with how he won at the workouts last Saturday and I think he was more forward than I realised," said Small. "He has come through that well and I'll take him back to Alexandra Park on Saturday for another workout.

"Some of those other open class horses might be there too so it could be almost as good a race."

One of those could be Sly Flyin, whose trainer-driver Tony Herlihy, admits he was not surprised to see Friday's race cancelled.

"It is a shame but you can understand trainers from down south not being too keen to send horses up here to take on Elsu, Sly Flyin and Alta Serena," said Herlihy.

While Elsu will not be returning to the track this Friday the premier meeting sees the return of beaten Interdominion trotting favourite Delft in the $30,000 City Of Sails Trot, the final lead-up to the Rowe Cup on Friday week.

Missing from that race is Allegro Agitato, with her trainer Phil Williamson opting to head straight into the Rowe Cup, in which she will need a new driver as Herlihy is committed to Delft.

Friday's $100,000 Messenger Championship will be even stronger than last week's Taylor Mile, with Mi Muchacho the most notable addition.

He has drawn the front line, along with Onedin Legacy and Likmesiah, who was luckless in the Taylor Mile, ensuring a good battle for favouritism.

One horse set to improve on his Taylor Mile effort is Zaneden, who galloped after fighting his boring pole last Friday.

He was taken to Alexandra Park for a private workout without the pole yesterday and pleased his connections.

* New Zealand pacers Baileys Dream and Our Hippity Hop will have to overcome second line barrier draws in Friday's A$100,000 New South Wales Derby.

Baileys Dream will start a warm favourite in the classic even after drawing two on the second line, with Our Hippity Hop drawing four on the second row.

Three of Australia's leading chances, Make Me Smile (one), I'm Yosemite Sam (two) and Woodlea Shark (four) have all drawn well.

Running scared

* Elsu's expected comeback race at Alexandra Park this Friday has been abandoned.

* Only three pacers were nominated against the Interdominion pacing champion.

* Elsu will instead have a workout at Alexandra Park on Saturday before a $100,000 race next Friday.

* Exciting 3-year-old Baileys Dream has drawn the second line in the New South Wales Derby.