Racing: Cup start decision today for Just An Excuse

Todd Mitchell will be checking his mobile telephone between races in Palmerston North today, awaiting news of the fate of Free-For-All pacing star Just An Excuse.

The Cambridge horseman and Just An Excuse have won the past two New Zealand Cups and everything appeared on track for a winning hat-trick in the Group One event until Thursday morning.

Just An Excuse trained "the best he has for the past year", according to trainer, and father of Todd, Robert Mitchell down Woodend Beach, north of Christchurch, but suffered a bleeding attack from the nostrils shortly after at the stables of nearby trainers David and Catherine Butt.

The 7-year-old will be given a leisurely training hitout today and will then be examined and scoped by a Harness Racing New Zealand veterinary surgeon and a decision will be made if the pacer is fit enough to compete in the New Zealand Cup.


- HERALD ON SUNDAY