Bob Butt’s Inter Dominion driving plan

Bob Butt has a plan.

The top Kiwi horseman is heading into his first Inter Dominion final drive with serious intent aboard young trotting star Bet N Win at Albion Park on Saturday.

Bet N Win has drawn gate five but will move into four if emergency Sir Fahrenheit doesn’t get a run, while main danger Arcee Phoenix has the pole.

“It’s a good draw but not great with Arcee Phoenix drawn one,” Butt said.

“I have to have a crack for a lead and ask more of my horse at the start than I ever have before.

“It could go a long way to deciding who wins the race.

“All series, we’ve seen the huge advantage of being on the markers pegs at Albion Park.”

While Bet N Win has run to the front from similar draws in both heats, Butt said he doesn’t know just how far out the five-year-old can be.

“No, because I’ve basically let him run to the front rather than ask him every time he’s led so far. I’m sure there’s more speed there, but just how much is the question.

“This is the time to find out. It’s a $500,000 race and we’ve got a good draw, I have to give it a serious crack to try and lead.”

Butt said Bet N Win’s professionalism gave him the confidence to be daring at the start.

“He’s a great racehorse, almost your perfect racehorse,” he said. “A lot of horses you’d be worried about pushing them off the gate hard, but not him.

“You can use him early and then he’ll just spit the bit out and relax again. It’s probably his greatest quality.

“Even if I go hard this week and don’t get across, he’ll relax in the running line and be somewhere handy.”

Butt, who is back in NZ with his team and returns to Brisbane on Thursday, said it’s a huge buzz just being part of his first Inter Dominion.

“Absolutely, in so many ways,” he said. “Obviously Bet N Win’s preparation couldn’t have gone better and he won both races comfortably.

“But also just to be part of a series with so much history and one I grew up watching and dreaming of winning.

“Lyell Creek’s win (Moonee Valley in 2000) is the first one I really remember. How could you not love that?”

by Adam Hamilton, for Harness Racing New Zealand