Mantra looking to master next step

When unbeaten three year old harness racing filly Mantra Blue (Sweet Lou) lines up at Addington tomorrow night, trainer Zachery Butcher will be looking for signs she’s ready to tackle her next major target The Nevele R Fillies Final.

She’s been touted by some as a possible serious challenge to the Queen of Addington Millwood Nike, (Captaintreacherous) who’s unbeaten in fifteen starts.

“She’s got a long way to go before she’s going to push her. If she goes a good race on Friday that’s a step in the right direction but you never doubt a horse as good as Millwood Nike. We’ll just be happy to be in the race on Cup Day and if things swing our way and we’re lucky enough to beat her then we’ll put the hand in the air and say we’re good enough then,” Butcher said.

Mantra Blue has been in Canterbury for a week and is stabled at Cran and Chrissie Dalgety’s.

“I was down for Kaikoura, and I was able to work her on Tuesday. I was pretty happy with her and she felt quite good. She’s still taking a bit of time to settle in and she’s leaving a bit of feed but I think that’s just her. She doesn’t appear to adapt as well as other horses do. When you let her out in the paddock she’s got the tail in the air and bucking and kicking so she’s happy, which is the main thing.”

Butcher says the filly doesn’t take too much work to get fit.

“I never push the go button on her at home and she just does what she has to. It seems to be working so far so I’ve just stuck to that theory.”

Butcher says Mantra Blue will have a bowl around today (Thursday) with Andrew Drake and she should be ready to go on Friday.

He says with her limited race days appearances she’s still untapped.

“She’s such a lovely filly when you get out on the track and does all the right things. Like any horse, race fitness seems to bring them on. She’s only had the three runs so you’d have to say she’s still pretty green.”

Butcher states she has the attributes of being a good stayer.

“She’s not point to point speed. She’s more of a rolling speed horse and better going over 600 rather than 150 metres. I think she’ll be able to stay but I’ve never really asked her to. At some point we’re going to have to find out.”

On Friday night Mantra Blue will start from the outside barrier in the 1980 metre mobile race along with a mixture of mid-grade mares and three year old fillies.

“She drew eight at Cambridge and they went a quick time and she ran over the top of them. We’ll just let her drop across and see where we land early. If they’re not doing much in front we may just flop around or if they’re bowling along we’ll just look to follow them around and hopefully run over the top of them. There are some pretty fit horses in there and we’ve just had the one trial after having a pretty quiet time. She will improve with the run and our aim is Cup Day.”

Mantra Blue is owned by Lynette Philpott who’s had some good horses over the years including Auckland Cup winner Howard Bromac (Falcon Seelster) and Zeus Bromac (Bettor’s Delight) which won a G1 Three Year Old Colts and Geldings Breeders Crown, ran second in the Chariots Of Fire and third in the Len Smith Mile.

“She owned Call Me Trouble (Superfast Stuart) who reached his mark here. We thought we’d cash in on him and look for another one. They’re not easy to find and we’d been looking for quite a while. I saw Mantra Blue trial at Puke one day and thought she looked like a big strong filly who had a lovely way of going. I had a drive on her at home and I was pretty happy. Wayne (Fausett) had a price on her and we were happy with what they were asking so it worked out well for all parties. Lynette has been a great supporter so it’s pretty cool to get one as good as Mantra Blue for her.”

Butcher is into his fifth year of training. He’s geared up twenty seven winners and is enjoying the ride.

“Very much so. There’s a bit more stress (laugher) especially when you get a nice one. You’re half wrapping them up in cotton wool and making sure nothing’s going wrong with them, what do you do next, and planning. It’s a different challenge rather than just going to the races and driving each week. I get a big kick out of it especially when you’re winning.”

Butcher says he takes advice from anyone that’s prepared to give it, especially from his father David, Barry Purdon and Scott Phelan.

by Bruce Stewart, for Harnesslink