Elsu
Elsu (foaled 19 December 1999)[1] is a black New Zealand bred Standardbred pacer who won the Australasian Pacers Grand Circuit Champion and was twice the New Zealand Horse of the Year.
He was sired by Falcon Seelster out of Interchange by New York Motoring.
Racing record
He was trained by Geoff Small and driven by David Butcher.
In 2002/2003, Elsu won the Great Northern Derby, the NZ Yearling Sales Series Open, the New Zealand Trotting Derby and the New South Wales Derby. During his career he also won the 2003 and 2004 Auckland Cups, the Chariots of Fire, the Noel J Taylor Memorial Mile, the New Zealand Messenger Championship, the A.G. Hunter Cup, the Inter-Dominion Pacing Championship and the City of Auckland Free For All. The 2004/2005 season saw Elsu crowned the Australasian Pacers Grand Circuit Champion, as well as being crowned New Zealand Harness Horse of the Year for the second time.
Elsu's performance in the 2005 A.G. Hunter Cup was a remarkable effort in the world's richest standing start event, handicapped 20 metres, Elsu sat 3 wide for the last 1,100 metres then powered to the line to easily win. It was later found that he was suffering from leg injuries at the time. His best time for the mile was 1:53.6.
Major race wins
- 2003 Auckland Trotting Cup
- 2003 New Zealand Trotting Derby
- 2004 Auckland Trotting Cup
- 2004 Chariots of Fire
- 2005 A G Hunter Cup (Handicap of 20 metres)
- 2005 Inter Dominion Pacing Championship
He was retired to stud in 2005 with over two million dollars in earnings. His stud career began well with a full book. His oldest progeny are now four-year-olds.
Tabulated pedigree
| Sire Falcon Seelster (USA) B. 1982 |
Warm Breeze B. 1973 |
Bret Hanover | Adios |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brenna Hanover | |||
| Touch of Spring | Good Time | ||
| Breath O'Spring | |||
| Fashion Trick B. 1971 |
Overtrick | Solicitor | |
| Overbid | |||
| Meadow Child | Adios Butler | ||
| Midway Lady | |||
| Dam Interchange (NZ) Br. 1986 |
New York Motoring (USA) B. 1912 |
Most Happy Fella | Meadow Skipper |
| Laughing Girl | |||
| Peaches N Cream | Shadow Wave | ||
| Parisian Hanover | |||
| Zenover B. 1968 |
Bachelor Hanover (USA) | Nibble Hanover | |
| The Old Maid | |||
| Zenith | U.Scott (USA) | ||
| Royden Star |