By MICHAEL GUERIN
The annual Interdominion casualty rate is rising.
Every year New Zealand's harness racing elite are sent to the series with great expectations but some return with little to show but great vet bills.
And yesterday it was the turn of the Christian Cullen camp to lick their wounds, although luckily not with the champ.
While the great horse was drawing the ace in Saturday's Victoria Cup, stablemate Cigar was being withdrawn for the second round of the series.
The 4-year-old is suffering from a virus which flared up after a hard run in the Hunter Cup 11 days ago.
Cigar is being treated for the virus and while he will miss Saturday's heat trainer Brian O'Meara is hoping to have last month's Alexandra Park Summer Cup winner back for the final heats in 10 days. That would give Cigar a chance of qualifying for the $A50,000 Interdominion consolation a week later.
Cigar isn't the only Kiwi absent from Saturday's heats as Auckland mare Sunny Action will miss the rest of the trotting series.
The Mark Purdon-trained speedster returned home on Sunday even after a game second to Sundowner Bay in her heat last Saturday.
"She knocked her knee in the race, which is probably because of the problems she is having handling left-handed tracks," said Purdon. "It is a great shame because she went very well last Saturday."
And the casualties are not confined to the open class horses.
Purdon's powerful 3-year-old Cool Hand Luke has returned from his unsuccessful Victoria Derby tilt needing an operation.
"He has a throat problem which is affecting his breathing so he will be heading for an operation," said Purdon.
"At this stage I can't see him making it back until next season."
Purdon is still hopeful of upsetting trotting freak Lyell Creek in Saturday night's $A100,000 Australasian Championship.
The South Auckland trainer will have four representatives in the 3020m feature and says Sundon's Way could be the surprise danger to Lyell Creek.
"His run in the Dullard Cup was very good because he got checked twice early and settled a long way back," he said.
"From there he had no choice in such a fast run race but he still ran on very well.
"I know Lyell Creek is going to be extremely hard to beat at the handicaps this week but all my trotters have thrived over here and I at least rate them good place chances." Purdon will drive Sundon's Way, with leading Victorian reinsman Ted Demmler taking the drive behind Miss Whiplash.
And another former world champion Maurice McKendry has also landed a catch drive for the Trotting Championship.
McKendry will partner Kawarau Invasion who was left without a driver because Tony Herlihy, who partnered him to a heat win last Saturday, is committed to Buster Hanover, who will be chasing a Trotting Championship three-peat on Saturday night.
Racing: Cigar joins growing list of casualties
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