Butt wins feature trot

Heston Hall (Andover Hall) was given a peach of a drive by harness racing driver Gav Smith in today’s (Feb. 5) $15,000 Bluff Protein Waikouaiti Trotters Cup and was always travelling like a winner. 

Soon after the start, Smith took the six year old to the top and was left to run the race at workout pace before kicking on at the end of the 3000 metres to win by a length from back marker My Moment’s Now, making it an Andover Hall quinella.

“It worked out perfect. He drove him super,” said trainer Bob Butt who’s at home at the moment with a prolapsed disc in his back and can’t sit in the car.

Heston Hall began his career with Todd McFarlane, winning once from a handful of starts before Dave and Claire McGowan took over his training. They also won a race with the trotter before he was shipped south to Bob Butt’s Woodend Beach stable.

“I’ve had him for five months. He had a big spell and then they sent him down because he had a few feet issues but now they’re good. He’s a lovely big horse, he’s six but hasn’t had too many starts. He went really well at Blenheim the other day over 2800 and he kept going at the line so I thought the 3000 today would suit him.”

HESTON HALL REPLAY

Heston Hall is out of the Earl mare Anreca Hest which won once for Kevin Townley but has proved to be more than useful at stud. Anreca Hest is the dam of The Fiery Ginga (CR Commando) which won twenty eight races. She’s also the dam of The Fiery Filly which has left promising grey trotter Smokin Bandar (Monkey Bones) which has won nine. 

Meanwhile Butt says both Manhattan (Bettor’s Delight) and Callie’s Delight (Bettor’s Delight) will be improved by their runs in the Premier Mares Championship late last month as they head to the Group One New Zealand Breeders Stakes at Addington on Friday night.

“I thought I had them ready enough but I can’t have done, so hopefully that race has brought them on. They both seem good.”

Callie’s Delight finished fifth and the Manhattan seventh in the Mares Championship which won by Folklore (Sportswriter).

For complete race results, click here.

by Bruce Stewart, for Harnesslink