Auckland Reactor trialed (qualified) for the first time since he returned to New Zealand by winning the 2400m trial for winners of 2 or more races behind the mobile barrier. He won by a neck in 3:04.9 (mile rate of 2:03.9) with the last 800m (approx 1/2 mile) in 55.8 and the last 400m (approx 1/4 mile) in :27.
To us North Americans, this may not be an impressive return to racing for the New Zealand wonder but checking his record before his disasterous North American campaign, the last time he raced a 2400m mobile start in New Zealand back on March 1, 2008 at Wyndham Raceway, the final time was 3:01.8 (MR 2:01.8), so he is about two second off his mile rate when compared to his race against 3yo colts and geldings.
Certainly considering the layoff it was a good first effot. He is next scheduled to trial next Wednesday at Motukarara before being entered into his first parimutuel start on February 12 at Ashburton when we will see if he is back into his form before he headed to North America. My guess is he is.
No, I don't think having Auckland Reactor trained by Kelvin Harrison was the problem. What we had was a horse which neede to get used to humid weather conditions who had some physical problems requiring surgery. I wish the Reactir would have remained in North America and returned to the races in the winter months when the Open trotting ranks are easier than during the summer months and let the Reactor work his way up to the true opene leveds he would have had to compete against during the summer.
Maybe Auckland Reactor was the real deal, maybe he was a fraud. We will never know.
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