By Mike Love
The beach appears to be agreeing with well-bred trotter High Step.
Yesterday the four-year-old mare recorded her second win in five starts for Woodend trainer Bob Butt when she won the G.K. Fyfe Painting “Making It Happen” Handicap Trot at Rangiora.
Previously with Mark and Nathan Purdon, High Step was sent out to Butt during the spring to rejuvenate on the beach. Since winning first up at Kaikoura back on November 4, the daughter of Father Patrick raced okay during cup week, including a seventh in the New Zealand Trotting Oaks won by the unbeatable Keayang Zahara.
High Step and Butt began well from their 20 metre handicap, settling towards the rear of the field. They worked into the one out three back position at the 1200m where they stayed before being produced from the 500m to get up and pip Samantha Ottley and Holly Highlander, winning by half a head.
“She went good,” says Butt, “they sent her out to the beach for something different. She’s done a good job.”
High Step is supremely bred, being out of Muscles Yankee mare High Gait who won 16 races and placed 12 times of only 34 starts, including a Group 3 and Group 2 victory.
High Step has now won six from 17 including four races in Australia before returning to New Zealand at the end of 2023.
“She’s well bred, so her racing will be limited,” says Butt.
High Step was bred by Breckon Farms Ltd who have 36 yearlings on offer at the National Yearling Sale at Auckland next Saturday, February 15.
Other highlights of the day included Tom Bagrie training his 100th winner when Hi Hopes won the Tyre General Amberley Mobile Pace with Seth Hill. His century came from 835 starters, with his first training success being DD Trotter, driven by Dexter Dunn, at Motukarara in 2016.
