New Zealand champ Lyell Creek is near peak condition but today's major American assignment, before heading to Canada in August, has been thwarted by another horror Northern Hemisphere draw at the Meadowlands in New York.
The seven-year-old gelding drew 10 of 13 for today's $US50,000 ($125,187) mile heat of the $US500,000 Nat Ray Trot - a draw which left trainer-driver and co-owner Anthony Butt speechless.
"What can I say?
"I was shattered when I knew where he had drawn.
" There's not much you can do about it but battle on.
"It's going to be very difficult to qualify for the final from that alley.
"It's a shame because the horse has improved all the time since coming to America and he has already posted the times and proved he can match it with their best," Butt said from his New Jersey base yesterday.
It is the fifth time in six European and American starts that Lyell Creek has been drawn out of the race.
The frustration was evident in Butt's voice, but he said the grand final stake on August 4 was too good to just sit back and concern himself about the draw.
"I know I have the horse to win a big race here so I have to give him a chance to get close.
"But we will be hoping for luck in the running," Butt said.
The race will be aired live on Trackside at 12.45 pm today.
The TAB will take betting on the event as well as the $US1 million Meadowlands Pace at 1.57 pm on Sunday.
The Meadowlands season closes on August 4 and from there Lyell Creek and Butt will tackle trotting events in Canada worth up to $C700,000.
The son of Royden Glen has recorded the fastest ever time for a New Zealand trotter of one minute 52.4 seconds since arriving in the US last month. That was good enough for third.
- NZPA
Racing: Barrier draw bogey tracks Lyell again
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