Racing: Top pacer Reactor in fight for life

Auckland Reactor. Photo / Greg Bowker

One battle appears won, another lost for Auckland Reactor.

The wonderful pacer's troubled past 18 months reached its lowest point yesterday when he was scratched from the Interdominions which begin at Alexandra Park on Friday night.

But a far more important battle is being won, with vets now confident they can save the 6-year-old star.

Auckland Reactor was struck down by a stomach illness on Monday morning which saw him spend the rest of that day at the Takanini Veterinary Clinic.

While treatment during the day helped bring a high temperature down, it rose again late on Monday night and vet Ivan Bridge had to resort to more powerful drugs, which once administered ruled Auckland Reactor out of contention for Friday evening's heat.

But his condition became so bad there were even concerns for the stallion's life.

"It wasn't looking really good for a while and things are still not great but Ivan is confident we will get him home," trainer Mark Purdon told the Herald last night.

"It is a real shame but this is a one-off thing and not in any way related to problems he has had in the past.

"But first things first. We will get him healthy, hopefully, and then worry about the future."

He was the one-time favourite for the series but two disappointing performances at the Auckland Cup meeting had seen him drift to $11 in the markets, so his withdrawal did not greatly affect the TAB odds.

The question now raised though is what next for the one-time glamour boy of New Zealand racing?

He has limited opportunities remaining this year but retirement to stud when his career was on a low would be commercially difficult.

The quickest way to redeem his stud career would be a fast Miracle Mile win in November.

Barring that, it is a long way back for Auckland Reactor.