By Mike Love
Woodend beach trainer Bob Butt heads to the annual Amberley meeting at Rangiora today with a trio of each way chances.
Included in his chances is Get Up N Dance ($12.00FF) in the $25,000 Rangiora Equine Services Amberley Cup.
After eight months away from racing, Get Up N Dance headed north to tackle the Marlborough Cup a couple of weeks ago after some slick workouts. However the six-year-old Rock N Roll Heaven gelding found himself a little undone and on the fresh side.
“Being fresh up he just got a bit worked up on the day, and didn’t give his best. But put a line through that.
“Hopefully he can bounce back to his best.”
He has had one start on the grass at Rangiora for one win, coming in the Rangiora Grass cup back in December 2022.
“It’s a very even field. He’s a good beginner and hopefully we can get a bit of a head start on some of the main dangers.”
Other chances in the event are rising star of the south Da Vinci, the four pronged Robert & Jenna Dunn attack of Mighty Looee, Dashing Major, Double Time, and Dalton Shard, along with the likes of Wheels Of Fortune and Franco Marek.
Earlier on in the card in race 4 Butt lines up his 1,000th starter to the races in stable newcomer Lil Miss Muscles ($4.50FF).
The now six-year-old Muscle Mass mare, formerly trained by Mark Jones, was sent to Butt for a crack at beach training.
“She seems good. She goes good on the grass. Hopefully the beach work has helped her out a bit.
“She’s a solid each way chance.”
Ready Set Jet ($5.00FF) lines up in race 7, the Glenn Scott Memorial Trot, fourth up after a luckless run at Addington last week. Butt expects the four-year-old Quaker Jet gelding to be competitive with manners.
“He just needs a bit more practice to become a racehorse. But the motor is definitely there.
Hopefully he can trot away and do the job for the Scott’s.”
Ready Set Jet was bred by Glenn Scott and is raced by Jan Scott and the Scotty’s Leftover Syndicate.
Racing commences from 12:07pm.
