Butchers making their own history

Harness Racing driver David Butcher (58) will be rightly proud to be competing in Tuesday’s IRT New Zealand Trotting Cup alongside his two sons Zachary (31) and Benjamin (27) – a first for the Cup in decades.

“It’s not been done for seventy years, and it’ll probably never be done again. It’s quite special,” David said.

This will be his 16th drive in the great race, the first time being in 1999 when he drove Ritchi (Fitch II) finishing 11th.  

“He won the Kaikoura Cup. On Cup Day he flipped over, and I got tipped out and that was the undoing of him,” he said.

But his winning New Zealand Cup moment came in 2008 when the Geoff Small trained Changeover (In The Pocket) won for David. 

“It was a relief because I’d missed twice on Elsu (laughter). It took us seven minutes to get the race started that year and I ended up missing away which was probably a blessing. I went round them and got to the front before handing up to Bailey’s Dream (Todd Mitchell). His stable mate (Monkey King) was outside of him, and Toddy left him out. Thank goodness for that.”

Benjamin also remembers his father winning the Cup.

“I was down in the wee granny flat on the farm where Zach used to live when he was working for Dad. I gave a bit of a roar when the horse came up the straight. It was pretty exciting,” he said. 

David will pair up with Kango (American Ideal). He’s had six starts this campaign running a third to stablemate Taipo at Alexandra Park before winning at the same venue a week later. In a key lead up to the Cup he recorded a brave win in the Kaikoura Cup. His previous two starts have been at Methven (10th), and Addington (6th).

“I think last year hardened him. He’s not your top end guy but when he ran in the Auckland Cup, and they got into a sub four minute two mile (rate) he got home quite good. The racing he copped last year has made him better this year. With horses like Changeover and Elsu you knew they were the best so you could drive them with plenty of confidence. Two miles (Cup distance) changes the picture of the race. Most can last 2400 or 2600 metres but after that it changes.”

Interesting David has also driven his sons’ drives, BD Joe and Old Town Road. He was successful driving BD Joe but had no luck with Old Town Road.

“Josh Dickie couldn’t beat a maiden field (Old Town Road’s first start) and I couldn’t get him away (the horses only time out of the money). That’s my claim to fame with that horse.”  

David says he does do some preparation prior to the Cup, but scenarios nearly always change.

“You keep an eye on what the others are doing. This year’s really hard with the draws. It comes down to probably the runs or trips you get, who’s going to do work and how the race is run. None of that you can predict. You just have to adjust and make decisions that suit your horse.”

He has respect for the Zachery’s drive Old Town Road and Australian visitors Majestic Cruiser and Rock N Roll Doo.

“The Aussie horses are going to be hard to beat. I like Zachery’s horse. If they get into a sub four minute two mile rate and he gets an economical trip, he’s got the speed to get over them. In a race like the Cup, you just hope you jump on at the right time or get the right trip. You’re driving with good drivers so the gaps and spaces will be shut down.” 

Zachery has driven in the Cup seven times – the first in 2012 when he drove Pembrook Benny. His best placing was a second on Jack’s Legend in 2017.

His drive, Old Town Road (Bettor’s Delight) began his IRT New Zealand Cup campaign by beating Copy That at Alexandra Park in August. He had a further two wins at the Park in September and early October before running an eye-catching second to B D Joe in the Ashburton Flying Stakes. He’s trained by John Dickie and was at Wednesday’s New Zealand Cup Trial finishing a close second to Rock N Roll Doo.

“Pretty happy. We ran a pretty nice time with a good last half. He blew out that last little bit which was expected because the Cup’s this Tuesday. It was his first time at Addington, so he had a good look round. He can be a bit jumpy with things like that, but he handled himself pretty well. He lunged in a bit following Rock N Roll Doo, so I was a little bit worried but once I straightened him up, he steered pretty good. John may make a few more changes to make sure he’s spot on for Cup Day, but I can’t see there being a problem,” Zachery said.

Old Town Road draws wide on the front row but that doesn’t worry Butcher.

“It is what it is. He wasn’t going to be one that gets into the hustle and burn against the big boys. He’s more there to be driven cold and hopefully we can get on the right one’s back. There’s aways going to be that three wide train at the mile and an opportunity to get into the race. Hopefully we land in a good position early without doing too much work and go from there.” 

Second son Benjamin has driven in the Cup once, finishing eleventh in 2020 aboard Check In but in this year’s race he’s driving one of the more favoured runners B D Joe (Roll With Joe). 

“You can’t help but get excited. It’s everyone’s dream in the game to win those sorts of races. To think you’ve got a pretty decent chance makes it pretty exciting, yeah,” Benjamin said.

Competition is high between the three with plenty of banter thrown into the mix.

“There’s only two people you love beating in racing – your dad and your brother. There’s always a lot of banter and a bit of fun but we’re all very competitive and it’s always the goal to beat each other,” Benjamin said.

He says he’ll be taking a level headed approach in the Cup and doesn’t like to get caught up in the hype.

“I try and treat it as any other race and not let the moment get to me. It’s a big race and a big deal but you’ve just got to go out there and do what you always do.”

B D Joe won fresh up at Addington in early September then ran second to Alta Wiseguy in the New Brighton Cup. He then went on a winning streak taking out the Canterbury Classic as well as a race at Addington, and the Ashburton Flying Stakes. He’s trained by Steve and Amanda Telfer.

“He’s really strengthened up with that little bit of extra time Steve gave him. In all the leadup races he’s just got better and better. There’s a lot of good horses in the race this year and it’s a real even field so it could be anyone’s race,” Benjamin said.

BD Joe barrier 15 draw may negate his very good standing start manners.

“It could be a bad or a good draw. It depends on what happens on the day and who steps away and who ends up in front. There’s a lot of different factors.”

First in the family to drive in the Cup was David’s father John Butcher. He drove Tobias in three New Zealand Cups – 1966, ’67 and ’69.

“I had a look at when Dad and Tobias ran fourth. They went 4-19. They work them faster than that now,” David said respecting the past but highlighting the speed of standardbreds now.

David has won a remarkable thirty five Group One races, Zachery seventeen and Benjamin two. With her husband and two sons in harness racing’s biggest race, you’d assume Wanda Butcher will be glued to the TV.

“I doubt it. She doesn’t go well with one of us in a race let alone three.” Benjamin said. 

David added, “When I won the Interdominions she stood round the back of the grandstand. I said to her all the time ‘you’ve got to watch it live – there’s no use watching the replays.’ 

David’s mother Colleen will definitely be watching. So who’s she picking to win?

“They’ve got to pay two dollars before I back them otherwise they’ll send me broke. I think the one Ben’s driving is full of speed. The other two are strong horses and if they get a decent run they’ll be right there. As for my favourite driver, my son of course. Who taught my two grandsons?”

For complete race entries, click here.

by Bruce Stewart, for Harnesslink