The New Zealand Cup campaign of Heaven Rocks is back on track.
The superstar pacer gave his connections a scare when he pulled up with lameness after his surprise flop performance behind Lazarus in Friday night's group 2 Canterbury Classic at Addington.
The freakishly talented 5yr-old paced awkwardly in the event before dropping out to run last as a sub-$2 favourite.
The horse was suspected to have a fetlock injury immediately after the race, news that raised fears through the harness racing world the gelding's New Zealand Cup campaign was over.
Among those to suffer a fright was Mosgiel part-owner Phil Creighton who, with wife Margaret, watched his star pacer's shock performance.
''I got a fright on Friday night,'' he said.
''I saw him walk to the wash-down and he was definitely tender.''
However, a full veterinary examination, including X-rays, on Saturday allayed those fears as Heaven Rocks was diagnosed with a case of greasy heel.
The condition results in skin lesions developing between the pastern and the hoof and Heaven Rocks was undergoing treatment for the condition before the race.
''I have had a phone call to say it was just greasy heel,'' Creighton said.
''They have treated him for this greasy heel but it has split open and it was obviously stinging.''
Although the affliction obviously worsened with the horse's contact with the Addington track, because greasy heel is considered to be a less serious, routine ailment the feeling within the Heaven Rocks camp was the horse was quite simply being a bit of a sook on Friday night, Creighton said.
''He was back working on Sunday morning and jogging.''
Heaven Rocks' New Zealand Cup campaign revival adds much needed intrigue to this year's cup trail.
His trainers brought Lazarus to Addington on Friday night expecting the stallion to be less than his usual competitive self as he had taken longer to get fit this campaign.
The horse then gave them and the harness racing world a message that even when he is not fully fit he is still remarkably good.
The combination of Lazarus' brilliant return and Heaven Rocks' shock failure had the New Zealand Cup turned into a one-horse race as bookmakers dropped Lazarus into $1.80 odds when they re-opened the Cup market.
Although Otago star Titan Banner and the favourite's stablemates, Dream About Me and Have Faith, In Me have all impressed in their returns to racing this season, they are again joined by Heaven Rocks as much needed competition for Lazarus.
