by Ellen Harvey, Harness Racing Communications

Freehold, NJ — Auckland Reactor, Horse of the Year in New Zealand in 2009, arrived in the United States on Feb. 3 to prepare for a summer race schedule with nary a bump in the journey. Just one problem — he’s a bit chilly.

“He’s settling in pretty good, but he’s like me, he doesn’t have a lot of hair,” joked trainer Kelvin Harrison, a native of New Zealand now based in the states.

Vicki Wright photo

Auckland Reactor and Jeremy Young take to the track in New Jersey.

Auckland Reactor’s native country of New Zealand, in the southern hemisphere, has seasons opposite of North America, so he now has a summer coat, not sufficient to keep him warm at Harrison’s stable at Magical Acres in central New Jersey.

“He’s feeling the cold a little bit. The first day he was a little tired, but he’s been right into it ever since, he’s feeling good.”

Harrison says the son of Mach Three, who has nearly $1 million in earnings and 25 wins, will ease slowly into a racing schedule.

“He’ll jog light for about six weeks, until the weather gets a little better. When we get some nice days, we’ll get him out in the paddock, but he’s got a real summer coat. He has two heavy blankets, plus he has a shoulder blanket, plus he has a blanket that covers his neck, so he’s well covered up.”

Harrison says the horse looks every bit the champion.

“He’s a great looking horse. He’s big and strong, well put together, stands good. Very strong-looking individual.”