Racing: Relief, joy as Auckland Reactor returns to best

Auckland Reactor (Blair Orange) cruises to victory in last night's Woodlands Taylor Mile. Photo / Greg Bowker

The unheralded hero of the Auckland Reactor team had one overriding emotion after the champ returned to winning form in last night's $100,000 Woodlands Taylor Mile.

"Relief," sighed co-trainer Grant Payne.

That was a common emotion for the army of Auckland Reactor fans, too, after the great pacer bounced back from his disastrous Interdominion performance last month to lead almost throughout in last night's sprint.

After having to burn a little early to wrest the lead from The Cavalier, Auckland Reactor then rolled over the 1700m in a 1:55.3 mile rate, a wonderful performance on a freezing night.

He easily held out a late challenge from Georgetown.

After Auckland Reactor finished last in the Interdom Final on March 28 the knives would have been well and truly out for the champ had he not been able to dominate his rivals.

And the pressure was heaped on co-trainer Payne as he has been in charge of the multimillion-dollar stallion this week.

"That was a real relief," said Payne. "We expected him to win but it's always nice to get it done and it would have been a far different story if he had got beat. He's back on track now and it was a good drive by Blair [Orange] too."

Auckland Reactor surprised Orange by showing gate speed last night but he still had to work hard enough early to be vulnerable. Well, that's if he was a normal pacer.

"He is beautiful to drive and you don't realise how fast you are going," said Orange. "I looked up at the half [800m] and thought, wow, we can't be going that fast."

It was Orange's first drive on Auckland Reactor and maybe his last, with trainer Mark Purdon to jump back in the sulky next Friday for the $200,000 Messenger Championship.

Safely through that race, Auckland Reactor will wrap up his season in the $200,000 Harness Jewels at Ashburton on May 30.

A fine day there with no wind would give him a fair chance of breaking his own national record of 1:53.5, a time not threatened last night because of the cool conditions.

While Auckland Reactor was the star of last night's show, One Over Kenny was just as impressive in the open class trot.

The great mare overcame having to wait until the 600m to be put in the race by flashing home to win in a performance that could see her start as short as $1.75 in next Friday's Rowe Cup.

She won last night off a 20m handicap so off level marks next Friday it is impossible to see her beaten.

Ricky May has driven enough champions to know a serious horse when he sits behind one.

So when he says Ima Gold Digger is the "real deal" you know the 3-year-old trotter must be something special.

May drove the Canterbury gelding to a brave victory in the $70,000 NRM Sires Trot, confirming himself as the best of his age in the country.

While he had looked the star of his crop at Addington, last night showed another string in his bow when he was able to handle Alexandra Park's right-handed track fresh-up - a rarity for southern visitors.

And he was still able to win after being forced to work twice in the race.

Ima Gold Digger lost the early battle for the lead and then made another attempt before wresting it from second favourite Dream Machine.

He was later attacked, albeit briefly, by Pocaro, and was left a sitting duck but still held Dream Machine easily at the finish.

May, who has been behind such greats as Christian Cullen and Iraklis, said the 3-year-old could be the best young trotter he has driven.