By Matt Markham
A week is a long time in racing, sometimes for the better and often for the worst.
Luckily for David and Catherine Butt though it was a case of the former and not the latter on Friday night when their promising pacer Idealindiamonds showed his true worth to salute at Addington.
Seven days prior to Friday night’s effort, the Woodend Beach trainers had taken the five-year-old to the races with high expectations, but left a little disheartened when he failed to perform.
But on Friday night he was impressive, coming from off the speed to run past his rivals with ease.
“He just got too keen last week,” David Butt said.
“The false start didn’t help him either I think, he got a bit worked up.
“But that was more like him tonight, he’s gone very good.”
Paid up for the initial nominations for this year’s New Zealand Trotting Cup, Butt said there were some decisions to be made on whether they would continue toward the big race.
“I’m not really sure to be honest, it’s costing a lot of money to keep him in the nominations and if you don’t make the field you don’t get any of that back.
“Realistically we can’t beat the really good ones, so there’s a lot of money being paid for probably a very small shot at the prize.
“It makes it pretty tough and I’ve got no problems in saying that either.”
Despite his concerns, Butt said they would still progress down the Road to the Cup path with Idealindiamonds due to a lack of other suitable races meaning the Canterbury Classic is next up on the radar.
Post that the Methven Cup looks ideal for the son of American Ideal.
“He goes well on the grass, so that’s our big shot.
“But we will have to keep pressing on in the other races before then because there isn’t anything else for him really.”
Handled on Friday night by the Butt’s son, Bob, Idealindiamonds settled mid-field and launched at the 400 metre mark to run past his opposition with a real impressive show of speed.
“When I first pulled him out, he didn’t want to go and I had to work him a bit to get him running, but once he hooked into it we were sweet he really sprinted.
“He relaxed tonight too which is a big bonus.”
Life’s quiet at the Woodend Beach barn of the Butts’ these days.
Their total number of horses in work totals just seven, a far cry from the huge numbers they used to train when they were premiership contenders each season.
“It’s a good number for us, we’re enjoying it,” David said.
“Back when we were in full swing it was around 50 I guess.”
Butt said there were a couple of nice young horses in the barn who, although the might not make two-year-olds, were showing enough promise for the future.
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