By Adam Hamilton
FORMER Kiwi Anthony Butt has the two plumb drives at Saturday night’s stellar Cranbourne Cup meeting.
Butt will take the reins on Ohoka Punter, the $1.75 Aussie TAB favourite from gate two in the $100,000 Group 1 Cranbourne Cup (2555m).
Just 30 minutes later he will be onboard champion trotter Keystone Del, the $1.50 Aussie TAB favourite in the $50,325 Group 1 Knight Pistol (1609m).
“Things look good on paper,” Butt grinned. “They are two fantastic drives and the draws have gone their way.
“Ohoka Punter should get the lead fairly easily from two and from their it’s his race to lose.
“Taking a line through the recent form against these horses, he’s going to be very hard to run down.
“Go back to the Shepparton Cup where Yankee Rockstar sat on his back and couldn’t get near him and he won’t get that good a run against us this time from barrier 10.”
Ohoka Punter was scratched from the recent Terang Cup, meaning he is first-up for caretaker trainer Amanda Grieves since his Hunter Cup second on February 6.
“He’s raring to go and has everything in his favour. You don’t expect just to turn up and win, but he’s going to take a lot of beating,” Butt said.
Keystone Del drawing gate four in the Knight Pistol is why he is favourite ahead of the in-form Glenferrie Typhoon.
“It’s a big advantage for us,” Butt said. “The way Glenferrie Typhoon is going and the times he is running, I don’t think we could sit outside him and beat him.
“The way it’s turned out, I’m sure we will have the speed to stay in front of him at the start.
“The query is what Arboe does (from gate two). If she gets fired up and takes charge like she did last time, then things could get interesting, but the draw still means we are better placed than Glenferrie Typhoon.”
Glenferrie Typhoon sharpened-up for the race with Melton trial win against the pacers on Monday where he ripped home in 56.3 and 27.5sec.
That said, Butt firmly believes Keystone Del is better than ever.
“His times and form says that,” he said. “I Brent (Lilley, trainer) has him really sound and trotting so smoothly at the moment. He’s a happy horse,” he said.
“It’s a bit of a dress rehearsal for the Great Southern Star, but I’m sure they will go quicker times at Melton than Cranbourne.”
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