His trainer, Cran Dalgety, said Bettor's Strike might have been feeling the affects of a race at Winton four days earlier when he finished second to Cullini at his last start.
He had won the Winton Cup from a 20m handicap.
"He tries hard and the race at Winton and the travelling probably took more out of him than I thought," Dalgety said.
Bettor's Strike is on the verge of qualifying for the Harness Jewels at Ashburton on May 30.
The $9000 race tonight looks a good opportunity for the 4yr-old.
Diggers Rest, runner-up to Bettor's Strike in the Winton Cup, is among his rivals tonight.
Roses In May has been scratched but there is nothing amiss with the mare.
She had a hard run in a work-out at Oamaru on Sunday and her trainer, David Harris, has decided to wait for the Oamaru meeting on Sunday week.
Dalgety has other chances tonight in McKellar (race 10), Red River Shard (race 9) and Darren James (race 6).
The trio and Bettor's Strike (race 8) are all to be driven by Dexter Dunn, the leading reinsman with 142 wins this season.
McKellar was a last-start winner at Forbury Park on April 23.
Darren James is returning from a spell.
He was placed in his first two starts this season and put aside in November.
"He [Darren James] is well forward," Dalgety said.
Red River Shard qualified at Ashburton 11 months ago. Scotty Mach, a dashing winner at Ascot Park last Saturday, will be all the rage in race 2 tonight.
He will be driven by Nathan Williamson in the race for junior drivers.
Dream Fire, a last-start winner on grass at New Plymouth on April 21, is now trained by Len Mosely at Aylesbury.
Dream Fire was trained for his win by Tony Shaw at Morrinsville.
Shaw recommended that Dream Fire transfer to Canterbury for more racing opportunities.
The 5yr-old Courage Under Fire gelding, owned by the Dream Fire Trust, is an acceptor at the Timaru meeting on Sunday.
•Results of trials at Ascot Park yesterday.-Two-year-old pacers, mobile, 1700m: Ima Loch A Kyle 1; Merlin Bromac 2; Sheza Littlelilyrose 3. Six started. 1L, 1L. Time: 2.14.3. Trainer: A Kyle.
Qualifying test, pacers, mobile, 2200m: Awamangu N Williamson 1; Classic Punch 2; Cardinal Huff 3. Four started. 1L, hd. Time: 2.51. Trainer: J Williams.
Qualifying test, pacers, 2200m: Touche Express B Shirley 1; Shades Of Holme 2; Speedy VC 3. Five started. 7L, 2L. Time: 2.54.6 (three qualified). Trainer: G Shirley.
Qualifying test, trotter, 2200m: Clo Saz B McLellan. Time: 3.17.8 (not qualified).
0-6w trotters, 2200m: MacArthur Park 40 K Adams 1; A K A Malabar 2; Spiritual Bromac 3. Four started. 3L, 2L. Time: 3.01.5. Trainer: T White.
0w pacers, 2200m: Winnies Central N Williamson 1; Grocer Dunne 2; Lilly's Lively Lad 20 3. Four started. 1L, L Time: 2.53.9. Trainer:. T Barron.
0w pacers, mobile, 2200m (first heat): Marcus Aurelius B Shirley 1; Victor Vtoo and McBeths Boy 2 equal. Nine started. L, dd ht. Time: 2.53.8. Trainer: G Shirley.
Second heat: Deadly Tana N Williamson 1; Heza Courage 2; Washington Hotshot 3. Five started. Ns, 1L. Time: 2.48.4. Trainer: T Barron.
