The Lazarus Effect heads Butt’s Geraldine squad

Woodend Beach harness racing trainer Bob Butt takes a strong team of four to the Geraldine meeting at Orari racecourse today, looking to keep his successful weekend going after Donna’s Boy produced an impressive effort to win at Addington last night.

Leading the charge at Orari today is The Lazarus Effect ($1.60FF) who lines up in the Placemakers Timaru/Twizel/Oamaru Geraldine Cup for $25,000 over the 2850m stand.

The four-year-old Lazarus gelding has won seven from just 11 starts plus three placings including his last start when he took lengths off New Zealand Cup winner Kingman in the Group 1 Christian Cullen at Addington.

“He keeps stepping up each time. He’s come through his last start really good,” said trainer/driver Bob Butt.

“Hopefully he can make a good beginning. It’s a good wee field.”

“Obviously his first start on the grass is always a bit of a query.”

“He’s there for a bit more standing start practice before we go to the Invercargill Cup (December 19th).”

Other chances in the event include the Robert and Jenna Dunn trained It’s Tough ($3.10FF), while the remainder has a case to fill minor placings.

Butt also has a great chance in the trotters version of the Geraldine Cup in Race 10, the Fresh Choice Geraldine Trotters Cup over 2500m with Tactical Bid ($4.60FF).

“I Dream Of Jeanie and Maui have been going super against the big guns. They get into the race good. Tactical Bid has the motor and a big future. He’s still learning and needs to get his head around things.”

Butt’s chances for the day do not end there. One Eye Bandit ($5.00FF) lines up in Race 9, the Hobbs and Banks Transport Pace. The aptly named three-year-old Always B Miki gelding has shown enough to Butt to suggest his time will come, however for now still goes around with the ‘L’ plates on.

“He just got a bit lost last week. I just thought now we’d go into some grass track races with bigger fields so he can learn how to race. He’s got his share of ability, and he’ll make a nice horse one day.”

In the final race of the day, Race 11 the Ecolab Mobile Pace Butt lines up Crystal ($14.00FF). Despite being drawn in the car park, Butt still believes she is racing well enough to feature depending on the tempo of the race.

“She’s been going good every week, but she can’t do work in the run. It’ll make it hard from that draw so hopefully if there’s speed on she might be able to track into it.”

Butt will also put on the Paul Nairn colours earlier on in the card behind Wilma’s Boy ($3.00FF) in Race 6, the McMillan Equine Feeds Trot over 2500m. Fresh up today with a 10 metre handicap Butt believes the four-year-old gelding should be prepped for a bold return.

“He should be pretty hard to beat.”

Race one gets underway at 12:05pm.

For complete race entries, click here.

by Mike Love, for Harness Racing New Zealand