Reality-check for New Zealanders

Champion harness racing driver Anthony Butt thinks superstar Kiwi filly Bettor Twist’s Australian raid will be a reality-check for New Zealanders.

While Butt thinks Bettor Twist can win the Breeders Crown final, he’s quick to add she’s just one of four major winning hopes.

“And that’s how things have changed in the past decade, maybe even the past five years,” Butt said. “In the past, a standout Kiwi filly like Bettor Twist would usually have just turned up over in Aussie and won everything, but the young Aussie horses have improved so much on every level.

“The breeding here has got so much better and then there’s how successful Emma Stewart and Clayton Tonkin are with young horses.

“Bettor Twist is good, really, really good, but she’s come across here to face three outstanding fillies of Emma and Clayton’s in Ladies In Red, Beach Music and now Tough Tilly is back as well.”

Bettor Twist was brave in defeat at her Aussie debut when she did the work and finished second to Beach Music at Geelong last Saturday week.

Trainer Nathan Purdon admitted she would improve a lot from the run, but she will need to have for the result to be different in the second of the Breeders Crown heats at Bendigo Friday night. That’s because Beach Music has drawn five and probably ambles to the lead, while Bettor Twist will start from outside the back row (gate 11).

“No doubt she’ll be fitter and sharper this week, but Beach Music has a big advantage from the draws,” Butt said.

The other Kiwi raider, Lifes A Beach, who is on loan to Andy and Kate Gath, has drawn much better in gate two in the third Crown heat. The problem for her is the presence of Ladies In Red (gate 10), who boasts 13 wins and a second from just 14 starts.

Proven Group 1 winner Tough Tilly returns from a minor throat operation in the weakest of the heats and gets her chance from gate five with Kate Gath board.

Butt admits “the jury is out” with former Kiwi pacer American Dealer heading into his Crown heat at Bendigo.

“He was good in Queensland, but maybe that form wasn’t as strong as we thought now he’s taking on the best of Emma and Clayton’s down here,” he said.

“He’s drawn for a cosy run from inside the back row this week, but Emma and Clayton have Major Moth (gate one) and Beyond Delight (two) in the heat and they will be very hard to beat,” he said.

Stewart and Tonkin’s recent Victoria Derby winner Act Now has to overcome the back row (gate nine) in his Crown heat where last Saturday night’s brilliant Group 1 NSW Breeders Challenge final winner Bar Room Banta is on the quick back-up and looks the leader from barrier three.

To view the fields for Bendigo on Friday click here.

By Adam Hamilton