KEY POINTS:
Mark Purdon made the call all horse trainers hate yesterday.
He dialled Auckland owner Frank Weaver to inform him he has lost the battle to keep Petite Sunrise sound for tomorrow's Australasian Breeders Crown at Ballarat.
The Kiwi trotting filly was one of the favourites for her division of the rich series but will instead be scratched today.
"It is very disappointing but she is too good to take any risks with, even for this sort of stake," said Purdon.
The exciting filly has not been herself since arriving in Australia a month ago, galloping in her only start and again at the trials last week.
A week of veterinary treatment resulted in the acid test yesterday and when Petite Sunrise galloped again in a private workout Purdon gave up.
"I think she is sore in her near hind foot but to honest we can't really pinpoint it," said Purdon. "Either way she is starting to resent being out there and I would hate to do anything which would sully her attitude for the future.
"And we have the punters to think of. She would have had plenty of support and I think she might have struggled to make it around the first bend."
The Harness Jewels winner will now return home for a spell. She also leaves New Zealand without a trotting representative in the Breeders Crown, with Earl Of Mot owned here but now trained by Lance Justice.
With Lizzie Maguire having been forced out of the juvenile pacing filly division just five days ago it has hardly been a vintage series for the New Zealand stars. Yet Changeover, One Dream and Justa Tiger all loom as winning chances in their finals.
So dominant was Changeover winning his semifinal on Tuesday night he has been opened a $1.20 favourite in his final, with Lombo Pocket Watch as $4.60 after drawing the second line.
One Dream is the $2.60 second favourite in Australia for her final and could drift even further as Fleur De Lil is likely to tighten from her $2 opening quote while Justa Tiger is rated a $5.50 chance but again could be longer on the tote.
