Butt confident for Premiers Mares race

Canterbury harness trainer Bob Butt can’t split his two runners on ability for tonight’s (Jan. 27) Garrards ‘Premier Mares’ Championship at Addington.

Callie’s Delight (Bettor’s Delight) and Manhattan (Bettor’s Delight) are expected to be in the top half of favouritism for the $50,000 Group Three feature.

They both most recently raced in Auckland in December and since returning to Canterbury have trialed at Rangiora. 

“They both trialed really well and I couldn’t be happier with them. Although they haven’t had a race for a while they both go good fresh so I’m not too worried,” Butt said. 

Because of the preferential draw system both have drawn wide for the 1950 metre mare’s feature.

“It makes things a lot harder. I’m happier drawn out wide than on the second row.”

Manhattan’s formline is impeccable and she’s now the winner of nine races.

“Every time I’ve tipped her out and brought her back in she’s just got better and better. In the last year now, she hasn’t gone a bad race except on Show Day but afterwards I found out that she was crook.”

Although Callie’s Delight’s form doesn’t look as good there have been excuses.

“She went bloody good in Auckland but just copped bad draws and the races didn’t pan out for her. She’s actually improved a lot since the trip away. She’s as good as Manhattan on her day.”

Butt say’s he’s likely to go forward with Manhattan and he says there’s plenty of depth to the opposition.

“Obviously the one to beat is Allamericanlover (American Ideal) but I’ve been impressed with Better’s Tart (Bettor’s Delight) and Forklore (Sportswriter) is back in form and most of the others are racing well.”

For complete race entries, click here.

by Bruce Stewart, for Harnesslink