By MICHAEL GUERIN
Only a bad draw stopped Lyell Creek from ending his Scandinavian campaign with a win in yesterday's Copenhagen Cup.
That was the opinion of the champion's driver Anthony Butt after the New Zealand trotter was a courageous third in Denmark.
Lyell Creek finished just a length behind winner Victory Tilly and a neck behind second-placed Blue Fighter after having the hardest run in the race.
"It was his best effort since coming to Scandinavia," said Butt.
"Had we got a better draw and been able to be handy from the start he could have beaten Victory Tilly."
The latter is regarded as one of the best three trotters in the world and was a hot favourite in yesterday's 2011m race.
He was able to easily find the front and dawdled through the early stages before Lyell Creek moved up wide to sit parked and pressure the leader.
But the effort of sitting parked on the tight 900m Copenhagen track took its toll in the straight and Lyell Creek went down fighting, with Blue Fighter getting clear very late to run second.
The race demonstrated once again that Lyell Creek is good enough to beat any of the European trotters - outside Elitlopp winner Varenne - once he develops the gate speed to get handy early.
"The gate speed advantage his opponents have is a big factor at the moment while the draws aren't helping," said Butt.
"At this level it takes a freak like Varenne to sit parked and win because they roll the last lap so fast.
"But Lyell is definitely getting better all the time over here and we will head to the United States feeling confident we will see some of his best form up there."
Lyell Creek heads to New York tomorrow and could start his United States campaign earlier than expected.
Originally Butt and his brother Tim, who trains the millionaire trotter, intended giving him a three-week spell upon his arrival in the US.
But he may now have a shorter break before being set for the Titan Cup, one of New York's biggest trots where he would clash with the glamour boy of US trotting, Magician.
"I know the racing in the US will suit him better because of the bigger tracks than they have here in Scandinavia," said Butt.
"While the tracks over here haven't suited him that well I am glad we brought him here because it will be good experience should we decide to bring him back here next season for some of their big races."
Racing: Gutsy effort from Lyell
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