After Auckland Reactor backed through a seven-horse field yesterday at Chester Racetrack, trainer Kelvin Harrison went on the record as saying that the Down Under pacing sensation cannot handle the heat
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"Acclimatization," Harrison told The New Zealand Herald yesterday. "He simply hasn't learned to handle the heat over here."
Harrison's words come after the son of Mach Three raced at Chester instead of knocking heads in Tioga Downs' $228,000 Bettors Delight Open Pace as previously planned.
In the Chester race, Auckland Reactor went to the top early from Post 6 and cut the fractions in :26.3, :55.1 and 1:23 before fading to seventh. He was individually-timed in 1:52 and finished last in the seven-horse field. Lindys Bandit and driver Dan Dube won the race in 1:51.1.
"It was 90 (degrees Fahrenheit, 32C) here today but also very humid and it just fries him," Harrison said.
"When it gets a bit colder, and it was a few days earlier this week, he works like the great horse he is.
"But when it gets hot he is just terrible. Today, he was truly awful and it can only be the weather.
"I have trained a lot of good horses and he is by far and away the best of them but he is not handling the weather at all."
(With files from The New Zealand Herald)
I agree with Mr. Carter.
I agree with Mr. Carter. Some people here don't realize just how tough he had to race down under before he came here. I think he has more than proved himself as a racehorse, lets not take anything away from him and what he has accomplished. Keep in mind, the press always likes to blow things out of proportion. I kinda feel bad for the horse. Best of luck to him and his connections on whatever they decide to do in the future.
This horse had clearly
This horse had clearly tailed off in his last number of races before coming to north america. He went many big miles as a 3, 4, and a 5 yr old and may simply not be the horse that he once was. Most horses only have so many big races in them. We may not have had the opportunity to see this horse when he was at his peak. Is this horse just past his prime from to many tough starts or is he just not good enough, that is a question that no one can really answer.
I really don't think this
I really don't think this horse is as good as everyone thinks he is. Now the excuses will come pouring in. There is an old saying,"you are not a good trainer unless you have a good book of excuses".
Always thought warm humid
Always thought warm humid air meant faster times because horses love it. Go figure.
Cardigan Bay NOT!!
Cardigan Bay NOT!!
Could it be, he is just
Could it be, he is just overrated!
Hopefully all he needs is a
Hopefully all he needs is a bit of time -- still have lots of faith in him. I think he's an amazing horse.
Marie Stoyles-Moura
Unfortunately, if you are
Unfortunately, if you are going to race him this time of year in the Northeast United States you are most likely going to run into heat and humidity until the end of September. It may be a long summer for Auckland Reactor.