By MICHAEL GUERIN
The man closest to Lyell Creek says the New Zealand champ is ready to prove he's the best in the world.
Phil "Prop" Anderson is Lyell Creek's constant companion and has been training the horse since he arrived in Sweden last month.
Lyell Creek started his Scandinavian campaign with an easy 1:56.3 mile rate win at Solvalla in Stockholm last week but now he has to take on the best trotters in the world in the Oslo Grand Prix in Norway at 2 am Monday (NZ time).
He has drawn barrier five and starting inside him will be the horse rated the best in the world, Victory Tilly, and his last-start conqueror, Etain Royal.
Victory Tilly has won 35 of his 44 starts for nearly $4million in stakes. He won the Oslo Grand Prix last season on his way to winning the Elitlopp in Sweden, for which Lyell Creek has been set.
But the extremely conservative Anderson says Lyell Creek can beat him this weekend.
"We won't really know until he meets them but I am very confident," said the Cantabrian.
"I have seen Victory Tilly and he is very good but Lyell has improved a lot since his win last week.
"He trotted 1:56.3 last week and I think there has been at least a second improvement in him since then.
"He worked over 2400m yesterday and I drove him and he felt great. He will definitely be better than last week."
Lyell Creek left his Swedish base yesterday for Oslo where he will be reunited with trainer Tim Butt and driver Anthony Butt.
Anderson says the 2100m of the Oslo race will suit Lyell Creek better than the sprint trips in Sweden and local trainers are telling him the race will be run to suit Lyell Creek.
"Everybody over here is predicting world record mile rate for the 2100m," said Anderson.
"They are talking about a 1:55.6 mile rate which would play right into Lyell's hands."
That sort of time is unbelievable for a trotter in New Zealand, with even Interdominion pacing champion Yulestar beaten when setting up a 1:55.1 mile rate for 2147m at Albion Park two weeks ago.
"They go so hard out of the gate over here that it sets up fast times. Local trainers are saying Victory Tilly will lead this week and Etain Royal, who is not a fast beginner, will come around and attack him.
"From barrier five if Ants can get around and sit parked before Etain Royal starts to challenge then we could have the drop on both of them.
"If things work out that way I honestly think we can beat them."
The track in Oslo is similar to the Solvalla circuit Lyell Creek won on last week, although it has slightly tighter bends.
"But I don't think that will worry him because he has been trotting perfectly on the bends this season, especially since he has been here."
Lyell Creek was rated the $6 third favourite by Swedish bookmakers last night and Anderson, who rarely bets, says that will be enough to entice him.
"I am not used to getting that sort of price for him."
The field in barrier draw order with prices for the Oslo Grand Prix (2100m) is.- Jackhammer ($34), Victory Tilly ($1.80), Etain Royal ($2.20), Not A Spacecase ($51), Lyell Creek ($6), Giant Cat ($11), Atom Tess ($34), Blue Fighter ($51).
Racing: Moment of truth for Lyell Creek in Oslo
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