Butt determined to lead with Bet N Win
The top Kiwi horseman is heading into his first Interdominion final drive with serious intent aboard young trotting star Bet N Win at Albion Park on Saturday night.
Bet N Win has drawn gate 5 in the $A500,000 ($NZ548,000) final but will move into gate 4 if emergency Sir Fahrenheit does not get a run, while main danger Arcee Phoenix has the pole.
"It's a good draw but not great with Arcee Phoenix drawn one," Butt said.
"I have to have a crack for a lead and ask more of my horse at the start than I ever have before.
"It could go a long way to deciding who wins the race.
"All series, we've seen the huge advantage of being on the markers' pegs at Albion Park."
While Bet N Win has run to the front from similar draws in both heats, Butt said he did not know just how far out the 5-year-old could be.
"No, because I've basically let him run to the front rather than ask him every time he's led so far. I'm sure there's more speed there, but just how much is the question.
"This is the time to find out. It's a $500,000 race and we've got a good draw. I have to give it a serious crack to try and lead."
Butt said Bet N Win's professionalism gave him the confidence to be daring at the start.
"He's a great racehorse, almost your perfect racehorse," he said.
"A lot of horses you'd be worried about pushing them off the gate hard, but not him.
"You can use him early and then he'll just spit the bit out and relax again. It's probably his greatest quality.
"Even if I go hard this week and don't get across, he'll relax in the running line and be somewhere handy."
Butt, who is back in New Zealand with his team and returns to Brisbane tomorrow, said it was a huge buzz just being part of his first Interdominion.
"Absolutely, in so many ways," he said.
"Obviously Bet N Win's preparation couldn't have gone better and he won both races comfortably.
"But also just to be part of a series with so much history and one I grew up watching and dreaming of winning.
"Lyell Creek's win [Moonee Valley in 2000] is the first one I really remember. How could you not love that?"
The other New Zealand trotting finalist, Oscar Bonavena, has landed gate 12 after being ruled out of the draw following another gallop in his second-round heat.
"It's a good thing. He seems to make his mistakes when he's off the front," co-trainer Nathan Purdon said.
"We thrilled he managed to sneak into the final and we know he's good enough to be right in the finish if he gets it all right." — HRNZ
By Adam Hamilton
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