The driving suspension of trainer Mark Purdon cost Auckland Reactor the Interdominions.
That is the opinion of owners' representative John Curtin after the dramatic and hugely expensive failure of the Kiwi champion in Saturday night's Final.
Auckland Reactor choked down and finished last after going ballistic in the race because his rear hooves were striking his sulky when he hit top speed.
That scared him and made him uncontrollable for catch-driver Gavin Lang, with the 4-year-old pulling himself into the ground and being a beaten horse at the 500m mark.
While there was nothing Lang could do, Curtin says Purdon's suspension for his first-night drive cost Auckland Reactor.
"Because Mark didn't drive him last week he didn't get a chance to feel that was a problem and react to it in training this week," said Curtin.
"That inside knowledge was crucial and ended up costing punters a fortune.
"It is disappointing but at least we know it was not the horse's fault, it was just one of those things."
The run might have cost punters on both sides of the Tasman enormously but Auckland Reactor pulled up as well as could be expected and he will now head to Auckland for the Taylor Mile on April 24.
His was not the only hard luck story in the great race though. Blacks A Fake was a victim of Auckland Reactor's over-racing, putting him under pressure a long way from home.
He was a wonderful second, while Karloo Mick was a mammoth third after being three wide for the last lap.
Changeover was a certainty beaten, storming into fourth after being 30m off the leaders starting the last 400m.
He was pushed back at the crucial time with a lap to go. Give him the winner's run and he almost certainly would have won more easily.
And in a fitting end to the embarrassing saga involving Tony Herlihy and Gotta Go Cullen, the latter will now stay in Australia to be trained by Vic Frost.
Racing: Frosty reception to treatment of Auckland Reactor
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