By Duane Ranger
Colin Butler isn’t scared to take on Monbet and the country’s best trotters when they converge on Auckland next month for the annual Auckland Trotting Cup Carnival.
The 79-year-old Cambridge trainer said his pride and joy – Charlemagne loved racing, especially at Alexandra Park, and didn’t see any point in dodging any trotting races when the good money is up – no matter who the opposition was.
“My fella loves racing and doesn’t need much work in between. He’s such a wonderful horse to be around and do anything with. He’s right up there with Yvette Bromac (eight wins) as the best I have trained,” Butler said.
Nine-year-old Charlemagne reinforced that love of racing when notching up his 15th win in 111 starts ($221,000) at Manawatu Raceway on Saturday night.
It was his first victory in 14 months and the first time he had won at Manawatu Raceway since March, 2012.
The two-time Harness Jewels winner was too smart from his 40m handicap in the $7,000 Maneline Farrier Supplies Handicap for the R53 and faster trotters.
“Even though I think there’s an Alexandra Park winner in him I am pleased to win at Manawatu because I like to support the club. They have been very good to me over the years.
“I think I won my first non-tote drive at Palmerston North back when I first started driving (1973). If I have a horse I like to take him or her down, even thoiugh the money is way better in the city. Kilkeel Lady placed on both days down there, so it was a beneficial trip,” said Butler who arrived home at 11am on Sunday.
Charlemagne, who was the equal 40m back-marker and $2.20 favourite, started well from his handicap, and driver David Butcher was happy to amble along with him in last place of the eight single-filed trotters.
They followed second favourite Master Monarchy every inch of the way and found themselves in the one-one soon after the bell.
That was the winning of the race and in the lane Charlemagne powered down the middle of the track to get up by ta neck and three-quarters-of-a-length over the The Scruff (Peter Ferguson) and Master Monarch (Jim Curtin).
The brown Earl gelding trotted the 2500m stand in 3:18.9 (mile rate 2:08 even) with final 800m and 400m sprints of 61.8 and 30.2.
“It hasn’t been easy for him. Even though we keep going back to Auckland to race it’s always difficult there. Not only are the horses pretty good but we are always handicapped out of it off long marks.
“Quite often my driver (Philip Butcher) would tell me the gelding was travelling so great but just had too much ground to make up,” Butler said.
“Oh well this game has never been easy and we will keep travelling so long as my old mate is happy racing – and at this stage he’s still loving it,” he added.
Butler said Charlemagne would continue to race in the North Island over the summer with the Group One $80,000 National Trot at Alexandra Park on New Year’s Eve one of his targets, and then perhaps another Rowe Cup later in the season.
Charlemagne won the Group One 4yo Ruby on his home track of Cambridge in 2012 and then the following year won the Listed 5yo Ruby at Ashburton.
Sixth has been his best performance in three National Trots since 2012. He also finished 14th in the Group One 2013 Rowe Cup.
Meanwhile the other highlight of the two-day Manawatu Harness Racing Club’s meeting held last week was dual winners – Brainstormer and Delightful Zen won both days of the Thursday and Saturday meeting.
Brainstormer (6yo g McArdle – Flight Of Fantasy) is trained by Doug Gale at Bulls and was driven on both days by Sailesh Abernethy at odds of $22.90 and $10.90 respectively.
Geoff Small does the training of 3-year-old gelding Delightful Zen (Bettor’s Delight – Zenstar) and David Butcher did the steering on both days paying $2.10 and $9.10.
Butcher also drove two and three winners respectively at the meeting.
Approved By Dean Baring www.harnessbred.com
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