By Dave Di Somma, Harness News Desk
The now Victorian-based Anthony Butt will return to the scene of some of his greatest triumphs when he drives at Friday’s bumper meeting at Addington tomorrow night.
The three-time New Zealand Cup-winning driver will cross the Tasman to drive two former Aussies in Rock N Roll Doo and Kyvalley Hotspur and is set for more appearances in the next month or so.
“This week I’m just going over and then back but I’ll be back for Ashburton and then Cup week all going well.”
It will be Butt’s first drives at Addington since Tough Monarch won the 2019 Group 1 New Zealand Trotters Free For All on Cup day and then finished second to Habibi Inta in the Dominion three days later.
“There are some great fields and super stakes aren’t there?”
Rock N Roll Doo hasn’t raced since finishing second in a Group 2 at Menangle in March. He then came here for the $1m Race by Grins at Cambridge in April but injury has seen him sidelined ever since.
Under the care of trainers Cran and Chrissie Dalgety he is now back and is rated a $16 shot in Race 9, the Get Your Cup Week Tickets Now at Addington.co.nz Handicap Pace.
The field is spearheaded by a fresh up Don’t Stop Dreaming, who is the third favourite for the IRT New Zealand Trotting Cup at $6, as well as the in-form Mo’unga, Tact McLeod and Alta Meteor.
“This is the first step to the New Zealand Cup and if all goes well the plan is for me to stick with him during the spring,” says Butt.
Rock N Roll Doo is currently 13th in the rankings for the big race on Tuesday, November 12. Butt has won the Cup twice with Flashing Red in 2006 and 2007 and with Blossom Lady in 1992.
In tomorrow’s Group 3 $40,000 Dancinginthedark M (USA) Canterbury Park Cup Butt gets the drive on Kyvalley Hotspur in a red hot field that includes rising star Bet N Win ($2.60) along with multiple Group 1 winners Muscle Mountain ($3.10) and Oscar Bonavena ($7.50).
Butt has driven Kyvalley Hotspur ($31FF) seven times before.
“I won a Derby with him a few years ago.”
That was the Victoria Trot Derby at Maryborough in 2021.
In recent times things have been comparatively quiet for Butt, with 20 wins from 249 drives in Australia this year.
Tomorrow one interesting head to head will be in Rock N Roll Doo’s race. Butt will square off against his nephew Carter Dalgety and Republican Party.
It will be very different from the last time they saw each other, in May.
“That was Carter’s 21st.”