Racing: Tired Elsu feels the pace as winning streak ends

By MICHAEL GUERIN

David Butcher knew a long way from home at Alexandra Park last night that champion pacer Elsu's winning streak was over.

The pacing sensation left punters reeling after fading to sixth in the $100,000 City Of Auckland Free-For-All, the final group one open class pace of the season.

Backed into $1.35 favouritism, Elsu looped the field to sit parked at the bell but faded in the straight as Sly Flyin made the most of a perfect drive from trainer Tony Herlihy to cruise up the passing lane for his biggest win since his all-conquering juvenile days.

After the race driver Butcher could only shrug his shoulders about Elsu's performance.

"I knew a fair way out we were in trouble because he wasn't travelling as well as he usually does," said Butcher.

"I think maybe those two hard runs he has had in the last two weeks may have got to him and he was feeling tired."

Elsu will now head to the spelling paddock and even after last night's defeat he is certain to be voted New Zealand Harness Horse of the Year.

While racing fans were left shocked by Sly Flyin's win, that wasn't the only reason for sadness as the race was the last for Alexandra Park hero Holmes D G.

Pacing's grand old man had no luck, being pushed back to near last before mounting a run wide on the home bend before Father Time started to win their personal war and he faded to finish near the rear of the field.

His performance confirmed trainer Barry Purdon has made the right decision to retire Holmes D G but last night's loss could not detract from an amazing career that sees him enter retirement as the greatest stake earner in NZ pacing history.

* The Flyin Doctor may find himself being just that after his clean sweep of minor races at the carnival.

The three-year-old may have earned himself a plane ride to Sydney by crushing his opponents in last night's two-to-four win 2200m event.

The Tim Butt-trained youngster swept to the lead in the middle stages and won so well driver Anthony Butt is now toying with the idea of setting him for the New South Wales Derby.

"The way he felt tonight I think we have to look at it," said Butt.

"He is racing so well and winning that easily he is not hurting himself so I think he would handle the extra racing.

"We will decide in the next few days but at this stage I would say he could be going."

And The Flyin Doctor has more than paid for that trip because he won a $5000 bonus last night as the victory was his third in as many starts at Alexandra Park, where every third win is worth 50 per cent more should the horse be registered in the tracks incentive scheme.

While The Flyin Doctor may have prolonged his season by winning last night, New Zealand Derby winner Likmesiah's is over after his luckless third.

The Mark Purdon-trained pacer stormed into third after being unable to secure a cart into the race and will now head home to be spelled.

* Dave Anderson has bad news for rival trainer Ken Ford - they haven't seen the last of each other.

Anderson's three-year-old trotter Hurricane Flyer upset Ford's superstar Zuri in the $50,000 Great Northern Trotting Derby, coming off the favourite's back to run him down in the last 100m.

And when Zuri heads to Melbourne in a few weeks, Hurricane Flyer will follow him.

"That has been our intention all along," said Anderson. "I was eyeing the Victorian Trotting Derby and Australasian Breeders Crown with him even before this trip but he has improved up here so we have to go now," he said.

Last night's race proved that Hurricane Flyer and Zuri are clearly the best three-year-old trotters in the country and the latter is still certain to be voted the best of his age group after dominating that grade in the south.