By MICHAEL GUERIN
Lyell Creek obliterated the New Zealand trotting mile record yesterday but could have gone a second faster.
The champion thrashed his rivals in the $25,000 Christchurch Casino Flying Mile, trotting 1:55.6.
That was 1.8 seconds inside the previous record held by yesterday's runner-up Sundon's Way and Pride Of Petite.
Such a time was unthinkable in New Zealand five years ago and 10 years ago would have been the national pacing mile record.
But driver and co-owner Anthony Butt is adamant Lyell Creek could have trotted at least a second quicker.
"The wind got up just before the start of the race which meant he had to race into it in the home straight.
"And he never had a challenger. He would have been able to go a lot faster had another horse been pressuring him."
Lyell Creek was beaten out of the gate by last year's winner Globe Trotter and that proved the making of the record.
"Once Globe Trotter crossed Sundon's Way at the start I knew the record was on," said Butt. "The only horse I was worried about was Sundon's Way and had he been on our back then I wouldn't have been able to go so fast because I would have been worried about him nabbing us.
"But once he was three back I knew he couldn't beat us."
The win was Lyell Creek's 20th on end but his army of fans will have to wait nearly a month for his next as he will not start on New Zealand Cup day, heading next to the New Zealand Free-For-All on Show Day.
Racing: Trotting record smashed
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