“He was just like driving a motorcar”

There were queries on how Krug would handle harness racing’s Redcliffe track but the talented New Zealand pacer quickly put those worries to rest with a record-breaking performance there tonight.

Krug slashed almost a second off the track record for the 2040m distance and subsequently broke Colt Thirty One’s race record in the Redcliffe Derby by two-and-a-half seconds when clocking 1:54.4.

It was the catch drive many would be envious of and top reinsman Anthony Butt drove Krug as the best horse in the race.

Parked three-wide and then outside the leader, the Cran Dalgety-trained three-year-old cruised to the line clocking the final two quarters in 28.5 and 28.2 seconds.

Watch the race reply here.

“He was just like driving a motorcar . . . he is beautiful to drive,” said Butt following his first sit behind the son of Bettors Delight.

“He was very professional and handled the track very well.

“His record in New Zealand proves he is a good horse . . . to win two Derby’s there is very hard to do so there is no question on his ability.”

Butt will now hand the reins back over to Blair Orange for Krug’s next test in Queensland as the driver heads back south to look after his team in Victoria.

“I’ll fly back home to Victoria but I’ll keep flying up throughout the Queensland Carnival,” said Butt.

The quick trip to the Sunshine State was also a success at the trials for Butt who also had his first drive behind NZ Messenger winner Copy That in an official hit-out at Alboin Park on Friday.

Copy That equaled his personal best race mile rate of 1:53.2 in the trial.

Watch the trial here.

“Copy That was really good and ran a good last half on a wet track,” said Butt.

“He’s travelled over from NZ really well and that’s all you can ask for.”

Click here to view the results from Redcliffe tonight.

For the record, the previous Redcliffe track record for 2040m was 1:55.2 set by Bodhi Tee on May 18, 2018.

by Amanda Rando for Harnesslink