Ukraine makes his return to the track tonight

Bob Butt says luck will matter as much as horse power for his two most high-profile harness racing drives at Addington tonight.

Butt has his stable’s sharp two-year-old Ukraine returning in an interesting Race 6 (Airpark Canterbury Mobile Pace) tonight while he will partner Double Time for the Dunns in the main handicap pace (Addington Cup Week On Sale Now! Handicap Pace) as they look to go continue their early season open class dominance.

Double Time was a close up fourth to stablemate Dalton Shard in the Maurice Holmes Vase last Friday and with the three who beat him home there not returning for tonight’s race he is a logical pick.

“He was good last week and has to be a chance because this field looks a bit easier,” says Butt.

“But he is a horse who probably still has to be driven right in this grade at this stage so I will want to get a trip where he doesn’t have to work too hard.”

If he can do that Double Time looks ideally placed in the 2600m standing start that lacks a lot of relevant recent winning form.

Butt is pleased with Ukraine ahead of his return but warns with it being the first run of a new campaign he may not be looking to do anything too heroic.

“These two-year-olds have a long second half of the season ahead of them if they make all the good races,” says Butt.

“So for a horse like him fresh up this week from a bad barrier I don’t think we will rush him off the gate.

“So he will likely be driven conservatively and while I’d love to win the way the race might pan out he could be running on well but still only finished third or fourth.”

Butt has two from his team in Race 2, the Garry Thompson Mobile Pace, and says there is little between Brando and Bronson.

“They can both get some money but I think Double Jeopardy is the one to beat. He was unlucky last week so he might be too good for us this week.”

Meanwhile, Butt is pleased with how the stable’s new open class star Old Town Road is progressing after coming south for the beach training environment because of hoof issues.

“He seems really well and is obviously a very good horse,” he explains.

“He is sound and happy at the moment but we will know more when we start to put him under more pressure.

“He is a few weeks away from the trials and I’d say he will only have two or three starts before the New Zealand Cup as he is a horse who races well fresh.

For complete race entries, click here.

by Michael Guerin, for Harness Racing New Zealand