Tidy book of drives for Butcher at Cambridge

Zachary Butcher hopes to be in for a good night with a book of six tidy harness racing drives at Cambridge Raceway tonight.

With eight races programmed for tonight’s meeting, three of Butcher’s drives are early fixed price favourites with the TAB including Desistella (R6), who he also trains and co-owns, and the first starter Hadmeablast (R3) for the Barry Purdon and Scott Phelan stable.

“There’s some good form behind a few of them tonight and hopefully we’ll get a bit of luck too,” says Butcher.

First up for the night Butcher drives Harleen Quinzel (Majestic Son) for Tuakau trainer George Stewart in Race 1, the All The News At Trackside.co.nz Mobile Trot over 2200 metres. The five-year-old mare has had several placings in the deep South but tonight will be her first start since coming North and from a mobile start.

“She’ll need to do things right, but her trial last week was nice enough,” says Butcher.

In Race 3, the Hire A Venue At Cambridge Raceway Mobile Pace, Butcher drives Hadmeablast, the first of two Purdon/Phelan trained runners for the evening. The two-year-old filly by Art Major was a trial winner on August 29 and has her first start here tonight.

“Her trial a fortnight ago was good,” says Butcher, “she’s drawn the second line tonight (9) and I’ll be hoping to give her a good trip in running but it could be a bit tough with the ones outside us.”

Up next is Boss Kenny (Majestic Son) in Race 4, the Oktoberfest Tickets On Sale Now Handicap Trot over 2700 metres. Trained by Zev Meredith at Cambridge, the gelding has run third in his last three appearances, all at Cambridge Raceway, and four of his five wins have been at this distance.

“It’s my first time driving this horse so I don’t know much about him, but his form is good, and I think I’ll just be looking for an easy trip and having one run at them,” says Butcher.

Butcher’s second drive for the Purdon/Phelan stable is Its Electrifying (Captaintreacherous) in Race 5, the Garrards Horse And Hound Mobile Pace over 2200 metres.

“He’s a horse with a bit of speed and ability and should be capable of covering this field,” says Butcher, “I’ll be tucking him in for a cosy run and having one crack at them and I reckon he’s my best of the night.”

The lightly raced two-year-old by Captaintreacherous starts in this race fresh up having last raced back in March where he was unplaced on both occasions. However his two workouts leading into tonight’s race have yielded good race form, with the gelding finishing third in his heat on August 29 behind Sugar Ray Lincoln and Captain Sampson, who took out the Colts and Geldings 2yo Sires Stakes Heat at Alexandra Park last Friday.

Desistella (He’s Watching), who Butcher trains from Pukekohe, lines up in Race 6, the Dunstan Horse Feeds Mobile Pace over 2200 metres.

The three-year-old filly was a winner on debut and has had just two starts since and was unplaced on both occasions. However, Butcher confesses it was driver error last week and Desistella can be forgiven that run.

“It was a terrible drive. I over drove her and she tired in the home straight,” says Butcher “She’s got a better draw tonight (2) and I’ll be opting to give her a nice easy trip and looking to really hit the line this week.”

Butcher’s final assignment for the evening is the Arna Donnelly-trained Red Rackham who has been putting his best foot forward at Cambridge with three wins and a second in his last four starts on his home track.

“He went great last week, and he’s been one of those horses who has taken a few races but really come to it now,” says Butcher, “there’s a couple of scratchings inside him which helps and I reckon I may be able to cross and lead on him.”

The Vincent gelding starts from barrier position five after scratchings in Race 8, The Christmas at The Raceway Tickets on Sale Now Mobile Pace over 2200 metres.

Racing action gets underway at 4:39pm and all racegoers on course once again have the chance to win a $250 cash prize plus be in the draw for a $4000 grand prize on September 24.

For complete race entries, click here.

by Brigette Solomon, for Harness Racing New Zealand