Racing: Champ out of big Mile

Champion pacer Elsu will not be returning to the scene of his fastest triumph after being scratched from Friday night's Flying Mile at Cambridge.

The dual Auckland Cup winner would have been a hot favourite for the $40,000 sprint but was pulled out by trainer Geoff Small yesterday after drawing badly.

"There is nothing wrong with him and he could have started but I didn't see the point," said Small.

"I mean, from one on the second line he could have won or he just as easily could have ended up four back on the inside and never got a run.

"I had to think about the horse but I also don't want to see him get into that position because he is always favourite and he could have ended up costing punters plenty.

"So I thought it was best all round to miss the race."

Elsu's withdrawal from the race he set his 1:53.7 personal best time in last season will leave Mister D G a hot favourite for the mile in what will be his last New Zealand race for six weeks.

Mister D G, who was a luckless sixth in the Auckland Cup, heads to Melbourne next week for an extended campaign which will culminate in the Hunter Cup on February 12.

He will then return to Auckland for the Interdominions which start on March 4.

That series is the main aim for Elsu and the local favourite may not race again before the series.

"I will have a word to Robert Death (ATC racing boss) to see what is around but we may end up getting him right with a few workouts."

Even with Elsu not starting the Cambridge meeting will be their biggest of the season, with Mister D G to be joined by stablemate Lyell Creek in the main trot.

Lyell Creek has started twice at Cambridge before, both times drawing huge crowds before winning sprint races.

His target this week has become a lot easier with the scratching of likely second favourite Allegro Agitato.

"There is nothing wrong with her but I thought it was better to miss this race and give her a freshen up after her tough last month," said caretaker trainer Tony Herlihy.

The meeting also sees the clash of superstar three-year-olds Baileys Dream and Badlands Bute in the $17,500 Waikato Guineas over 2200m mobile.

Both horses are being aimed at the A$130,000 Victoria Derby at Moonee Valley next month and Friday's race will provide the perfect dress rehersal, with the Cambridge track the most similar in New Zealand to Moonee Valley.