Elsu
Encyclopedia
Elsu 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.
.
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.
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.
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
bred Standardbred pacer
Standardbred horse
Standardbreds are a breed of horse best known for their ability to race in harness at a trot or pace instead of under saddle at a gallop. Developed in North America, the breed is now recognized worldwide for its harness racing ability...
who won the Australasian Pacers Grand Circuit
Australasian Pacers Grand Circuit
The Australian Grand Circuit for Pacers began in 1977 and was designed to be the showpiece of the Australian Harness Racing Industry with horses competing from every state within Australia. In 1992 New Zealand was admitted and the Circuit was renamed the Australasian Grand Circuit.The best horses...
Champion and was twice the New Zealand Horse of the Year
New Zealand Horse of the Year
The New Zealand Harness Horse of the Year Award is awarded to the Standardbred horse who is voted to be the champion horse within a New Zealand racing season. This award is open to all racehorses racing within New Zealand, regardless of age and sex...
.
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 ButcherDavid Butcher
David John Butcher is a former New Zealand politician of the Labour Party.He represented the electorate of Hastings in Parliament from 1978 to 1990, when he was defeated by Jeff Whitaker: one of a number of losses contributing to the fall of the Fourth Labour Government...
.
In 2002/2003, Elsu won the Great Northern Derby
Great Northern Derby
The Great Northern Derby is a harness racing event for 3 year old standardbreds. It is a major event for 3 year old colts and geldings in New Zealand. It is run at Alexandra Park in Auckland, on the same night as the Auckland Cup in early March...
, the NZ Yearling Sales Series Open, the New Zealand Trotting Derby
New Zealand Trotting Derby
The New Zealand Derby is a classic event in New Zealand for 3 year old harness horses, run at Addington during the autumn.-History:Formerly called New Brighton Derby Stakes from 1914 to 1925, the race was conducted by the New Brighton Trotting Cub and decided in the Autumn. In 1925, it was taken...
and the New South Wales Derby
New South Wales Derby
The New South Wales Derby is a classic harness racing competition for three-year-old horses held annually at Harold Park in Sydney....
. During his career he also won the 2003 and 2004 Auckland Cups
Auckland Trotting Cup
The Auckland Trotting Cup or Auckland Cup is a race held at Alexandra Park in March in Auckland, New Zealand for Standardbred horses. It is one of two major harness races, along with the New Zealand Cup, held in New Zealand each year. It is notable as it is a Group 1 championship race over...
, the Chariots of Fire, the Noel J Taylor Memorial Mile
Noel J Taylor Memorial Mile
The Noel J Taylor Memorial Mile is a Group One event for 4 year old pacing horses in New Zealand. It is held over the distance of 1700 metres once a year at Alexandra Park, Auckland, New Zealand...
, the New Zealand Messenger Championship
New Zealand Messenger Championship
The New Zealand Messenger Championship is a Group One event for 4 year old pacing horses in New Zealand. Run at Alexandra Park in early May, it is the most prestigious 4 year-old race in New Zealand, and a key guide to feature races in the following season like the New Zealand Trotting Cup.-Other...
, 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
Australasian Pacers Grand Circuit
The Australian Grand Circuit for Pacers began in 1977 and was designed to be the showpiece of the Australian Harness Racing Industry with horses competing from every state within Australia. In 1992 New Zealand was admitted and the Circuit was renamed the Australasian Grand Circuit.The best horses...
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 CupAuckland Trotting CupThe Auckland Trotting Cup or Auckland Cup is a race held at Alexandra Park in March in Auckland, New Zealand for Standardbred horses. It is one of two major harness races, along with the New Zealand Cup, held in New Zealand each year. It is notable as it is a Group 1 championship race over...
- 2003 New Zealand Trotting DerbyNew Zealand Trotting DerbyThe New Zealand Derby is a classic event in New Zealand for 3 year old harness horses, run at Addington during the autumn.-History:Formerly called New Brighton Derby Stakes from 1914 to 1925, the race was conducted by the New Brighton Trotting Cub and decided in the Autumn. In 1925, it was taken...
- 2004 Auckland Trotting CupAuckland Trotting CupThe Auckland Trotting Cup or Auckland Cup is a race held at Alexandra Park in March in Auckland, New Zealand for Standardbred horses. It is one of two major harness races, along with the New Zealand Cup, held in New Zealand each year. It is notable as it is a Group 1 championship race over...
- 2004 Chariots of Fire
- 2005 A G Hunter CupA G Hunter CupThe A.G. Hunter Cup is a competition in Harness racing. It is contested over 3,050 metres at Tabcorp Park in Melbourne, VIC. It is one of the world's richest handicap standing start events, currently worth A$425,000...
(Handicap of 20 metres) - 2005 Inter Dominion Pacing ChampionshipInter Dominion Pacing ChampionshipThe Inter Dominion is a harness racing competition that has been contested since 1936 in Australia and New Zealand. The host of the series is rotated between the six harness racing states of Australia and the North and South Islands of New Zealand. The rotation of the Championships is fixed...
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.