KEY POINTS:
Running On Faith has capped a horror fortnight for trainer Jeff Crouth by being withdrawn from the Harness Jewels.
Last year's 3-year-old pacing filly winner will not head to Cambridge for the pacing mares' division on Saturday week, a race she was at one stage the favourite for.
"She knocked her leg and although it wasn't serious, it was enough to cost us a few weeks at a crucial time," said Crouth.
"And that meant I couldn't have her as fit as she would need to be for the Jewels so I will ease her down now and she can go to the spelling paddock."
Running On Faith was the biggest name to pull out of Jewels contention when the 12 stakes-based qualifiers for each of the nine races were declared yesterday.
And that was just the latest blow for Crouth who has been hospitalised for two weeks.
He is lucky to be alive after a blood clot reached his heart after he fell ill at an Alexandra Park race meeting.
"I thought I was having a heart attack and when I got to the hospital they told me this sort of thing usually kills people," he said. "I am hoping to be back at work this week but it was a real shock and puts things in to perspective."
Crouth will still have a representative in the mares' pacing division in Our Super Operative, although he says she, too, has had her problems.
"It was nothing major but I am struggling to get her to peak fitness for the Jewels."
That race is likely to be Our Super Operative's last in New Zealand as she has been sold to a North American-based buyer.
With the Jewels contenders outlined yesterday and a wild weekend of racing, there have been major changes in some key markets.
Tintin In America is now the favourite for the 2-year-old male pacing division after his win in the $200,000 Sires' Stakes Final at Addington on Friday night.
And the ATC Trot Syndicates, which own him, also have the 4-year-old male pacing favourite in Changeover after he easily beat arch-rival Gotta Go Cullen at Cambridge last Thursday.
Running On Faith's scratching, coupled with some stunning recent wins have promoted Nearea Franco to favourite for that division.
"We have had a lot of money on her so we have brought her into $2.50 to try and stem the tide," TAB bookmaker Steve Richardson said.
The TAB took a decent hit on Friday night when a punter landed a $93,000 multi-bet collect on four harness races.
But there wouldn't have been too much angst in the Petone office yesterday after the Highlanders shock win over the Crusader in the Super14 resulted in one of the biggest wins ever on a sporting event for the TAB bookmaking division. Last night's TAB fixed-odds for the Jewels included:
* 4-y-o mares: $2.00 Nearea Franco; $3.20 One Dream; $7.00 Wave Runner; $16.00 Cut And Style, Smoke N Mirrors, Sweet Courage, Ohoka Moon; $21.00 Artishake,Veecmee; $31.00 Letitia Franco; $51.00 Our Super Operative; $61.00 Everlaughing Life, $81.00 Jazz Bromac.
* 3-y-o Fillies: $3.00 Kiwi Ingenuity; $4.50 Lizzie Maguire; $7.00 Eyecatcher Courage; $8.00 Natal Franco, $8.00 Badlands Jewel; $12.00 Fight Fire With Fire; $13.00 Lady Dancer; $18.00 Itz Cherry Ripe; $21.00 Angela's Dream, $21.00 Party Girl Becqui; $31.00 Victoria Rulz, $81.00 Safin; $151.00 Alta Camilla.
* 3-y-o Colts & geldings: $1.20 Auckland Reactor; $13.00 Fiery Falcon, $15.00 Roman Conqueror; $18.00 Georgetown; $21.00 Absolute Magic, Rider On The Storm, Ohoka Utah; $26.00 Themightyquinn; $31.00 Cullen's Legacy; $61.00 West Coast Anvil, The Cavalier, Benny Mac; $151.00 James Ryan.
* 2-y-o Fillies: $4.00 Arden's Darlin $4.50 Alexis, Hemisphere; $5.50 Arden Banner; $6.00 Beaudiene Bad Babe; $15.00 Lauraella, Twist N Shout; $21.00 Rum Ball; $31.00 World Of Dreams; $51.00 Soncerre, Delight Me; $61.00 Maggie Fitzgerald; $151.00 Telemecanique
* 2-y-o Colts & geldings: $3.50 Tintin In America; $4.00 Highview Tommy, Sir Clive, Stunin Cullen ; $16.00 OK Courage; $21.00 He's My Hero, Eric's Legend; $31.00 Coastal, $41.00 Myouri, Eisenhower; $51.00 Mighty Creation; $101.00 Hezanoperator.
