NZ’s only Inter Dominion hope gets vital draw

Most rival harness racing trainers were probably secretly hoping his horse might gallop and ‘de-rail’ his chances.

That didn’t happen, and if there is one trainer-driver not concerned about the barrier draw for this TAB Inter Dominion Trotting Championship, it would be former Kiwi Anthony Butt, who is handling the only New Zealander to contest the Pacing or Trotting Championship, Majestic Man.

The six-year-old gelding looked to heading back to his best at Newcastle in Sunday night’s third round of heats when he sealed his spot in Saturday night’s big one at Menangle with a fast-finishing fourth behind Māori Law.

After the shock of his disappointing sixth in round two at Bathurst last Wednesday, Butt left Newcastle content that he had the gelded son of Majestic Son back on track for a serious tilt at the $150,000 Inter Dominion Trotters Grand Final over the 3009m journey.

While the $500,000 Pacing Championship Grand Final is shaping as a battle between Luke and Belinda McCarthy’s star pair King Of Swing and Expensive Ego, the Trotting Championship looks a much more open affair.

Yet all the drivers will be wondering where Majestic Man is in the run – if he isn’t in front, that is, after drawing barrier two.

And that suits Butt down to the ground.

“We were happy with him leading into Sunday’s race and he appears to have recovered and ate up well this morning,” said Butt.

“It was a poor effort at Bathurst; he had a high heart rate afterwards so we had him scoped and did a blood test and it did appear he had a slight infection.

“He seems to have bounced back really well from that and is on track again.”

Butt explained that Majestic Man ran his best races when he was kept fresh and happy.

“He’s a bit like a caged tiger though and if he’s climbing the walls just before the race, that’s when he’s at his best,” he said.

“It’s hard to make ground three-wide at Newcastle but he made ground on the leaders and it was a perfect run.

“It hasn’t been an ideal preparation but we feel like we’re winning the battle.

“He should be close to his best by Saturday night and he’s the type of horse with a lot of options.

“He can lead or come off a helmet and be at his best.”

And that’s why many of his rivals will be watching for him.

To view the Inter Dominion fields for Menangle on Saturday night click here.

By Michael Court for HRNSW