By Jonny Turner
The friends and family of the late Glenn Scott saw his colours shine in the Nelson sun as Ready Set Jet strode to victory on Friday.
Bred by Scott, Ready Set Jet is raced by the late breeder-owner-trainer’s wife Jenny, along with his friends and family who make up the Scottie’s Leftovers Syndicate.
A jubilant ownership group greeted Ready Set Jet in the birdcage following his debut victory in race 2.
And Bob Butt was thrilled to be able to guide the promising trotter to victory in Scott’s colours.
“It is sad – what happened to Scotty – but it is great that his friends and family can keep his colours and his horses going,” Butt said.
“There were plenty of them there and they were rapt to see the horse win.”
Ready Set Jet is one of five horses that have joined the Bob Butt’s stable following Scott’s passing in 2021.
Butt thinks the four-year-old can go on with it following his debut win.
“He is going to make a nice horse once he learns what it’s all about.”
“He was pretty green today and was having a good look around at things, but he went good.”
Ready Set Jet’s victory came five days after Take After Me won his 20th race in his 349th start at Motukarara for Scott’s mother and father Fred and Jan Scott.
The dual-gaited iron horse is the last horse Scott prepared before his passing.
Later on the Nelson programme, Bob Butt produced an outstanding training performance to double up with Ruakaka.
The trotter strode to a strong victory following a massive break from racing, after last starting in May of 2022.
“He had a few niggles so we put him out and tried to forget about him,” Butt said.
“He was always such a lean bugger that time was always going to help him.”
“He has come up good and his trials have been good; it’s good to have him back.”
Ruakaka is raced by Butt, his grandparents Robin and Jackie Butt, as well as commentator Matt Cross.
Cross called his horse home before making it down to the birdcage to greet Ruakaka following his victory.
With both of his winners and the remainder of his team pulling up well immediately after their races, all of Butt’s runners are likely to back up at Sunday’s meeting at Nelson.
A positive drive from Tim Williams saw Alta Meteor bag his second consecutive cup success in the Nelson Cup on Friday.
Fresh up from their Motukarara Christmas Cup victory, Williams put Alta Meteor into the race with 1000m left to run and he was too slick for his rivals in the 3000m staying test.
