NZ HARNESS NEWS
The annual Australasian Breeders Crown campaign of New Zealand-trained horses starts in earnest at Maryborough, in Victoria, on Sunday.
Canterbury fillies Chevron Express and Renezmae kick off their campaigns by tackling feature races on the trotting-only card.
Former Kiwi driver Anthony Butt is down to drive Chevron Express for trainer Cran Dalgety, but is actually looking after Renezmae for rookie trainer Jack Harrington.
Butt drove Renezmae in a standing start trial at Bendigo on Monday night and she led all the way to win easily by 15 metres.
“The trial was a necessity,” said Butt.
“We realised over the weekend that she hadn’t had a standing start in New Zealand, either at the trials or races.”
With Sunday’s $A50,000 Group One Redwood Classic being a standing start, they had no choice.
“It was a bit of a late decision to go but she had to be qualified from a stand by Tuesday morning.
“She just flopped around in front and did it easily, she was never really out of second gear.
“It was just a matter of getting her round safely to get that ticket.”
Butt is committed to his stable horse Smashthemcalder, trained by partner Sonya Smith, but he has enlisted the help of a good friend to take the reins instead.
“We engaged Johnny Caldow on Tuesday.
“He’s obviously driven a lot for Tim (Butt) and I over the years and he’s a good man with the trotters.
“He’s a perfect fit for her.”
Butt says he and Smith could not be happier with Renezmae ahead of the Redwood Classic.
“We’re really happy. She hasn’t missed a beat since she got here.
“She was straight in to her food and has been drinking heaps. She’s perfect.”
With Dexter Dunn in America for the World Drivers Championship, Butt will drive Dalgety’s three-horse team in Victoria through August.
Chevron Express is the first of those and she steps out in the $75,000 Gr.1 Victoria Trotters Derby on Sunday.
Her task has been made easier by the late withdrawal of star Kiwi trotter Enghien.
She has drawn the inside of the second line, but over a staying trip (2690m), Butt doesn’t think it matters much.
“It’s just a matter of getting a bit of luck later on in the race.
“She’s one of the few that’s been over distance whereas most of the ones over here haven’t gone much further than 2200m and that’ll help her.”
He will also take the drive on champion trotter Keystone Del, who resumes in an $12,000 Free-For-All.
“He’s had two trials now and went pretty good both times.
“Kyvalley Blur was too good for him on Monday night and I think he’ll take a bit of benefit out of it.
“He may need this race a bit, but he feels good, the old boy.”
Approved By Dean Baring www.harnessbred.com
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