Butt eyeing Hunter Cup success with NZ pacer

Champion harness racing driver Anthony Butt thinks Tact McLeod (Sweet Lou) is the right horse to win him a remarkable eighth Group 1 Hunter Cup.

Butt, a former Kiwi now based in Victoria, already holds the record for the most wins by a driver in Victoria’s biggest harness race with seven, but it has been 11 years since he last won it.

He first won the gruelling staying test in 1994 on mighty Kiwi mare Blossom Lady and then went back-to-back on her in ’95. His other wins came with Mister DG (2004), Mr Feelgood (2009), Stunin Cullen (2011), Choise Achiever (2012) and Mah Sish (2013).

“It’s been too long. It’s time to win another one,” Butt laughed.

Tact McLeod stamped himself as one of the real emerging talents of NZ with a huge seventh in the NZ Cup

“I really like him. He’s only had 23 starts and is still on the up,” Butt said. “He ran a great race after missing the start in the NZ Cup and then pushed them across the line with nowhere to go in the (NZ) free-for-all a few days later.”

Those runs prompted trainer Mark Jones to make a late payment for the NSW Inter Dominion, but an untimely hoof abscess forced him out just days before it started.

Instead, Tact McLeod brilliantly won a support race on Inter Dominion final night (December 14) at Menangle.

“Mark spoke to us before that win and asked if Sonya (Smith) and I would look after the horse if he sent him down (to Melbourne) for a crack at the Hunter Cup,” Butt said.

“It took him a couple of days to settle in here because it was really hot when he first got here, but he’s raring to go now.”

Tact McLeod is a $2 favourite from gate five in Saturday night’s $75,000 Group 3 Bendigo Cup.

“He showed terrific gate speed in that Menangle win and you’d think there’s a great chance he’ll find the lead (at Bendigo). It looks like an ideal starting point for him. He’s at least as good as these horses,” Butt said.

“I’d say he’ll go from here to the Shepparton Cup (Saturday week) and the Ballarat Cup (January 18). Then it’s two weeks into the Hunter Cup (February 1).

“With no Swayzee here and no Leap To Fame, at least in these early races, they aren’t overly strong and look perfect for him.

“It’ll be great to get some strong racing into him before he’s got to face a horse like Leap To Fame in the Hunter Cup.”

Beyond that, Butt said plans were to return to Sydney to chase the $1mil Miracle Mile at Menangle in March.

The other fascinating Bendigo Cup runner is former Victoria Cup winner Rock N Roll Doo, who is back with his original trainer-driver Mick Stanley.

The seven-year-old, who also won the 2023 Group 1 Len Smith Mile, is back after some injury issues and a disappointing three-race NZ campaign with trainer Cran Dalgety.

On the same card, some of Australia’s top trotters clash in the Group 1 Maori Mile, headed by glamour mare Queen Elida, who is a $1.80 favourite from gate five.

Recent Inter Dominion runner-up Keayang Chucky (gate 10) and the classy Arcee Phoenix (six) are the other major players.

by Adam Hamilton, for Harness Racing Australia