World 3200m record holder Yulestar is back on track to restore New Zealand's harness-racing pride.
The giant staying star has been on a rollercoaster ride since his incredible, record-breaking New Zealand Cup win at Addington in November.
He returned to his Hawera home a tired horse and trainer Lorraine Nolan battled to get the gelding's blood count right before his game second in the Auckland Cup on December 15.
Yulestar's blood problems are believed to be behind an irregular bicarbonate level he returned in a pre-cup blood test, which is still being investigated by Harness Racing New Zealand.
But now Nolan, who was floored by the irregular test, is concentrating on getting Yulestar ready for some Aussie-bashing.
"I cannot worry too much about the bicarbonate investigation because I know this horse has never had a teaspoon of bicarbonate in his life," said Nolan yesterday.
"I absolutely hate the practice of milkshaking and there is no way I would even think of trying it."
Another sort of blood test has been playing on Nolan's mind as she fights to correct Yulestar's erratic blood counts.
"His blood count was all over the place after Addington and again after Auckland which is why we scratched him from the free-for-all on December 27," said Nolan.
"But we had another test taken just a few days ago and the results were a lot more encouraging."
So encouraging that Yulestar returned to the Hawera track on Saturday for his first fast workout in three weeks.
"It was his first run back and he paced 2400m in 3:15, which is all right for where he is at at the moment."
Yulestar will have another workout today as Nolan aims him at a resumption in the Ballarat Cup on January 27.
He will head to that race in provincial Victoria without a lead-up, Nolan choosing to bypass Friday's Flying Mile at Cambridge.
"I would love to have him there for the club but he simply won't be ready."
The Ballarat Cup will act as Yulestar's lead-up to the Victoria Cup, where he has a chance to redeem the Kiwi pride which took a bashing at the Moonee Valley Interdominions last season.
Yulestar started that carnival on a high, winning the $400,000 Hunter Cup but had no luck in the Victoria Cup or Interdominion Grand Final, won by Australians Breeny's Fella and Shakamaker.
That capped a horror second half to last season for New Zealand pacers in Australia, although Holmes D G has at least started this season off on the right foot by winning the first major transtasman clash of the season, the Miracle Mile.
"I think we can have him right for the Victoria Cup because the travelling and the race at Ballarat should bring him up to scratch," said Nolan.
"Realistically, the Victoria Cup is our best chance of a big win in Melbourne this year because he is likely to get about a 30m backmark in the Hunter Cup two weeks later."
Yulestar is unlikely to trial before heading to Australia but Nolan and her husband Ron do have another important racing date next weekend - they have to be in Cambridge for the marriage of Yulestar's driver Tony Shaw to Hayley Webber.
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Yulestar is not the only big gun not aimed at the Flying Mile at Cambridge on Friday.
Holmes D G will miss the race after having a week off work.
"He just didn't feel right during his last win at Alexandra Park and I thought he needed a break to freshen up before heading to Melbourne," said trainer-driver Barry Purdon.
Holmes D G will have two workouts later this month to prepare for the Victoria Cup on February 10, a race he won two seasons ago.
While the absence of the two superstars from the Flying Mile at Cambridge initially appears a blow for the club, it opens the door for the connections of other northern pacers.
Taking on Holmes D G or Yulestar off level marks is hardly appealing to the trainer of a class five, six or seven pacer. But with those two missing, northern trainers now have the option of nominating their intermediate grade horses and saving a $35,000 race from being scrapped.
The race will also boast a bonus, with the stake being raised to $50,000 if Scuse Me's national mile mark of 1:53.5 is bettered. With any number of intermediate grade pacers capable of a 1:55 mile it would be a shame to see the race lost.
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Maiden harness races at Otaki aren't exactly known as a stepping stone to racing riches.
But maybe the last race at yesterday's Kapiti meeting was an exception, because the win of Where Eagles Dare suggests the 3-year-old is going to develop into a serious racehorse.
The half-brother to Auckland Cup winner Flight South has given trainer Andrew Neal his share of headaches but produced a stunning performance to win.
He came from a second line draw, galloped and dropped back to last when making his run at the 900m mark but still looped the field six wide to bolt in by four lengths And he did it all still racing like an idiot.
"He could pace a half [800m] in 56 seconds and has as much potential as Flight South," said Neal.
Once his brain catches up to his body Where Eagles Dare will win them in a row.
Racing: Yulestar's recovery in home straight
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