By Tayler Strong
Another duo of Butcher brothers are aiming to extend a family record in the brothers in arms drivers series at the Oamaru Harness Racing Club meeting tomorrow.
Zac and Ben Butcher are newcomers to the series on the grass. Ben, 20, the youngest member of the Hamilton family involved in harness racing, is a junior driver with 40 wins on his record.
He is in his third season as a junior driver. Zac has now won 477 races. He was the individual winner of a trans-Tasman series at Ascot Park on Sunday and a member of the winning North Island team.
He was also the individual winner of the trans- Tasman series staged at Waikouaiti in March. Zac partnered his father, David to win a two-race series for invited drivers at Oamaru in 2009.
David Butcher partnered his brother, Philip to win the first two runnings of the Oamaru brother series from 2010. Clark and Ken Barron won in 2012; Nathan and Matthew Williamson in 2013 and Jay and Saliesh Abernethy were successful last year.
David and Philip Butcher, the Abernethys, Williamsons and Barrons are back for the five-race series tomorrow. Gerard and Leo O’Reilly complete the invitees.
Dexter Dunn was not available for the Oamaru meeting, thus ruling out a partnership with his brother, John.
Nathan Williamson has drawn the in-form Wanna Play in race 5. Wanna Play was a last start winner at Addington in fast time and successful at Kaikoura three starts back. She has yet to race on grass.
She ran fifth of five in a workout at Methven last Sunday won by rising star Monbet.
The Earth Moved, the drive of Philip Butcher, is proven on grass with a second to Valmagne at Orari last Saturday.
She won at Addington two starts back when the runner up was Queen Kenny, an Orari winner.
Zac Butcher has the drive on last start winner, Mighty Mara in race 7.
The Ken Barron-trained Mighty Mara is up against Mysistersastar (Leo O’Reilly), who has won at Motukarara and Forbury Park from three starts.
“The club is fortunate to have received full fields for the invited drivers races so no driver will miss an opportunity,’’ said John Mudie, the secretary of the Oamaru club.
Approved By Dean Baring www.harnessbred.com
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