By Duane Ranger (courtesy of Redcliffe Paceway)
New Zealand Hall-of-Fame trainer, Tim Butt said he was looking forward to Wednesday’s Christmas Cup meeting at Redcliffe Paceway, with two good chances nominated for the $11,000 Trotters Christmas Cup.
Ironically, Butt, who has won 33 Group Ones and $9.7 million in purses in several countries, has yet to win a big one trotting or pacing event at Redcliffe Paceway.
The 54-year-old Toorbul horseman, who relocated to Queensland from Victoria in February, works a team of 25. He has previously trained in Melbourne, Sydney, and Christchurch.
On Wednesday (December 21) Butt will have a one-in-four chance of nailing the 2,613 metre standing start event, which is race seven – the AQWA Constructions Christmas Cup for the NR55 to 75 Trotters.
“It’s about quality rather than quantity these days, and we have recovered from our Menangle hangover. These two trotters should acquit themselves well.
“I enjoy racing at Redcliffe. It’s a progressive club and the people are friendly, and the racing is always competitive.
“The weather is good. It’s a beautiful part of Australia, and the track It’s just under an hour from home, which also adds to the good quality of life here. It should be a good race. They are the only two I’ve got in on Wednesday,” Butt said.
His two representatives in the eight-horse field will line up from handicaps. Kar Manor (7) will start from five on the 10-metre line, while Cochy Malc (8) will is the only starter from 20 metres behind.
Leonard Cain will drive Kar Manor, while the youngest of Butt’s four children – Riley, will steer Cochy Malc.
Butt believes both trotters can go close, and when asked to single one out the Australasian powerhouse trainer opted for the back-marker.
“They can both win, but Cochy Malc is the more solid and safer trotter, who trialled well the other day. He should go close in what will be his first start on the track.
“As for Kar Manor, he can be a bit 50-50 but in the small field he should be okay. He finished third in his only start at Redcliffe back in March,” Butt said.
Butt has trained 28 winners from 194 starters in 2022. He’s also placed 42 times and banked $207,392 in purses. Last season in Victoria he trained 13 winners and netted $106,211.
He said his best two horses were currently two-win (from four starts) Borella, and his French-bred 4-year-old trotter, Holzarte Vedaquais. who has won five of his 14 starts, and yet to start in Queensland, but has won more than $150,000 against mostly his own age group in France.
Butt’s CV speaks for itself. Here’s some of his champions, spearheaded by the New Zealand-bred champion squaregaiter, Lyell Creek.
Lyell Creek 56 wins and $2.96m; My Field Marshall; Take A Moment 39 wins & $1.1m; Mr Feelgood 32 wins & $3.7m; Happy Asset 14 wins & $783,452; Mister D G 20 wins & $795,749; Mah Sish 15 wins & $955,165; Stunin Cullen 18 wins & $1.4m; Vulcan 20 wins $1.02m; Foreal 18 wins & $664,800.
“I’m looking forward to both the Christmas Carnival and the Interdoms in Brisbane. Andrea and I are settled here. It’s also a good opportunity for Riley to further his driving career,” Butt said.
When Redcliffe Harness Racing Club president, Bernie Ring, was told that Butt was yet to win a big race at Redcliffe, he replied:
“Wednesday night might change all that.”
Ring said his Club looked destined to host another strong Christmas Carnival of harness racing.
“Now that the season has been extended to December, there is now some good money on offer late in the year.
“In fact, it’s been a good year all-round, and this will cap it off nicely. The staff and committee need to be congratulated for their hard work – especially the track staff who have made ‘The Triangle’ something special,” Ring said.
He said numbers were also “good” for the $12,000 Christmas Pacing Cup (Race 5) the $7,000 Consolation (race three), as well as the $11,000 Burwood Stud 2yo Feature (race 9), and the $11,000 Redcliffe 3yo Guineas (race 10),
“Awaywego (eight wins and $133,140), a last start winner at Albion Park will go around in The Guineas. He’s been trialling well and could be hard to beat.
“There’s also the $11,000 Burwood Stud 2yo Feature (race nine). The Stud is a great sponsor at Redcliffe, plus a good supporter of Yearling Sale. I think last-start winner, Yogi, can win that juvenile race. That was great to see him win first-up after four months for trainer Gary Vernon last week.
“I like Manilla Playboy and Speed Dating in the Christmas Cup, and Kar Manor in the Trot,” said Ring who works for Queensland Rail, and is also a radio DJ for Bridge 99.7 FM on Friday nights. His show is called: ‘Bernie on the Pine’.
Wednesday’s fields can be viewed here:
https://www.harness.org.au/racing/fields/race-fields/?mc=RE211222
The Tim Butt trained and Riley Butt driven Kay Manor (11) winning from 20 metres behind at Albion Park on August 19.
