Butt snaps up star Kiwi trotter for Inter Dominion

Kiwi trainer Phil Williamson, essentially stranded in New Zealand by travel restrictions, has entrusted Butt with his stable star for the biggest assignment of his career – an Inter Dominion on foreign territory.

It’s a wise move given both Butt’s stunning association with so many champion trotters like Lyell Creek and Take A Moment, along with the fact he is the equal fourth-most successful driver in Inter Dominion history.

Butt has won Inter Dominion grand finals on Lyell Creek (2000), Take A Moment (2001 and 2003) and Mr Feelgood (2009).

Victory with Majestic Man, who is favourite to win the December 11 final, would take Butt to rarefied air with the Inter Dominion “King” Brian Hancock and “Queen” Natalie Rasmussen on five wins and equal second on the all-time list.

Hancock has been long retired, while Rasmussen and partner Mark Purdon, who holds the record with seven grand final wins, are not competing in this series.

Butt is confident going into the series, which starts with 2400m heats at Menangle on Saturday night, despite Majestic Man being on a eight-race losing streak.

“The reality is, the Kiwi trotters are an incredible bunch, much better than ours, and none of their other big guns have come across for this series,” Butt said.

“So, it’s a big drop in class for him, he loves the Aussie style of racing and his form when he was here last time was fantastic.”

Majestic Man starred during a six-race Aussie raid earlier this year where he won three times (all at Group 1 level), ran second, a third and a fourth.

“If he goes as well as he did here last campaign, he’s the horse to beat,” Butt said.

“And, although he hasn’t been winning at home, his runs two and four starts back in top company were terrific. Certainly good enough to be winning lots of races over here.

“He only arrived here a week or so back, but he seems well.”

The pacing series looks set to be a romp for the powerhouse Team McCarthy stable, led by dual Miracle Mile winner King Of Swing and Chariots Of Fire champion Expensive Ego.

Belinda and Luke McCarthy also have strong support players in emerging former Kiwi pacer Spirit Of St Louis and evergreen veteran Alta Orlando.

“I’d lean to King Of Swing as our best hope, but only because he’s a lot more seasoned and experienced than Expensive Ego,” Luke McCarthy said.

“Expensive Ego is right back to his very best form, will love the four runs in a fortnight and there’s not much at all between he and ‘King’ right now.”

The Inter Dominion moves from Menangle on Saturday night to Bathurst for 1730m sprint heats on Wednesday night.

Then it’s 2030m qualifiers at Newcastle on Sunday week before both Grand Finals over 3009m back at Menangle on December 11.

To view the fields for Menangle this Saturday night – the first night of Inter Dominion heats – click here.

By Adam Hamilton republished from The Daily Telegraph