A twelve-month break necessitated by an operation to remove some bone chips from a knee hasn’t held back promising winter galloper Butler (NZ) (Showcasing), who resumed with a comfortable victory over 1200m at Te Rapa on Saturday.
The strapping son of Showcasing had fashioned an excellent record before his injury-enforced layoff, winning four of his first eight starts for trainer Allan Sharrock, before being put aside.
A comfortable trial win over 1000m at Foxton last month fitted the four-year-old for Saturday’s assignment and in the hands of apprentice Tayla Mitchell he bounded clear of his rivals in the home straight to win handsomely by three lengths.
Sharrock, who was at home in New Plymouth, was delighted to see Butler back to his best with the win.
“He’s a very exciting horse who was good enough to win four races while he had that niggling issue with his knee,” he said.
“We put him aside after he won at Otaki this time last year and he had the surgery to remove the chips.
“It has been a long slow build-up to get him back, but it was a joy to see him working lately without a hint of the problem that he had earlier.
“I honestly think if he didn’t have those knee issues, he would be unbeaten, that’s how much I think of him.
“We took the blinkers off today and put young Tayla on for the maximum claim and she followed my instructions to the letter.
“He did it pretty comfortably at the end and with the weight off his back I hope it hasn’t taken too much out of him.”
Photo credit: Trish Dunell
Sharrock is prepared to aim high with his charge, with the immediate plan to start him next in the Gr.2 Waikato Stud Foxbridge Plate (1200m) back at Te Rapa on August 27.
“Hopefully I can get him into the Foxbridge at Te Rapa without another run,” Sharrock said.
“I don’t think I could run him before then so if he can sneak into the field and cop a similar track then I think he has the ability to be very competitive in the race.
“It is a big step up but I have a high opinion of him as I believe he is a genuinely good horse.”
Out of the Niello mare Maid Of Tralee, Butler has now won five of his nine starts for his syndicate of owners who include Phoenix Park principal Janine Dunlop.
Video: Tayla Mitchell and Butler stride home at Te Rapa