By MICHAEL GUERIN
MELBOURNE - Lyell Creek isn't just the best trotter New Zealand has produced - he could beat our best pacers too.
Such a claim would usually be rubbished. Except that the man who is making it should know.
Champion driver Anthony Butt made the stunning statement after Lyell Creek's career-best performance to win the Australasian Trotters Championships at Moonee Valley on Saturday night.
The trotting hero overcame a 50m handicap to sit parked for the last lap before crushing Last Sunset and his Australian rivals in one of the greatest displays of sustained squaregaiting stamina ever produced in Australasia.
That simply reaffirmed the greatest title he has proven so many times yet Butt says Lyell Creek is now sailing into unchartered waters.
Because less than two hours after that fantastic win Butt drove stablemate Pocket Me into fourth in the $A400,000 Hunter Cup against the best pacers in the Southerm Hemisphere.
"If Lyell Creek had had Pocket Me's run in the Hunter Cup he would have won," said Butt.
"I know it sounds hard to believe but I drive them both and know what they can do.
"If Lyell had sat in the trail in the Hunter Cup he would have outstayed them."
Butt is renowned for his conservatism so for him to say New Zealand's champion trotter can beat the best pacers is remarkable.
Not quite-so-conservative owner Graham Bruton was of course agreeing.
"I know it sounds impossible to believe a trotter beating pacers like that but Lyell could have done it tonight," said Bruton.
"We thought about starting in the Hunter Cup but decided to take the easier path. But it would have been fun if he had did taken the pacers on."
Not that Lyell Creek is short of challenges right now.
Bruton and Butt will confirm this week their intention to tackle the world's best trotters in the Elitlopp in Sweden in May.
They are expecting an invitation in writing on Wednesday and now want to take that option instead of heading to Brisbane to defend his Interdominion crown.
Lyell Creek was originally going to head to Brisbane before flying to the United States, with the Swedish trip postponed to next year.
"But the deal for us to go to Sweden is too good to refuse," said Bruton.
"The Elitlopp is one of the greatest races in the world and if we could win it then the sky would be the limit.
"I know there are a lot of things which can go wrong with a trip like that but he has nothing left to prove down here. He deserves his chance to be world champion."
Lyell Creek returned to New Zealand yesterday and will spend the next month at Barry Purdon's stables as he defends his Rowe Cup title.
That March 30 race at Alexandra Park will be his last in New Zealand and will be the scene of a huge farewell tribute from the Auckland Trotting Club.
But that will be hard pressed to equal the tribute Anthony Butt paid the champ on Saturday night.
Racing: Lyell Creek could beat pacers too
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