By Adam Hamilton
Successful Kiwi horseman David Butt is grateful for the day five years ago when Minstrel failed a vet test.
Leading Western Australian trainers Greg and Skye Bond had landed on a deal to buy the then emerging three-year-old and the last box to tick was a vet check.
“He’d just run third in the Flying Stakes, the last lead-up for the NZ Derby, and the offer was a good one,” Butt recalled.
“He was as good as sold, but failed the vet when they found he had changes in his knees. Thankfully they’ve never bothered him.”
Rather than ditch the deal, Greg Bond proposed buying half of Minstrel and Butt and his fellow owners, largely family, kept the other half.
“That’s turned out to be a blessing,” Butt said, “to see how far he’s gone and follow him in all the big races.
“We went to the Inter Dominion final at Menangle (last December) and even though he ran second, it was a huge thrill. He ran a mighty race.”
Minstrel has raced 70 times for 27 wins, 32 placings and banked $1,447,308.
Butt and wife, Catherine, have made the trip to Perth to be trackside for Minstrel’s quest to land his biggest win so far in Friday night’s $1.25mil Group 1 Nullarbor at Gloucester Park.
“Catherine went last year, but I’ve made the trip this time, too,” he said.
“He ran such a great race from a bad draw (gate nine) last year and he’s drawn much better (gate four) this time.”
Such is the importance of the barrier draw, Minstrel was $5 before it and is now $1.90 favourite.
His good draw was further enhanced by awful draws for his two main dangers, Swayzee (gate 10, lone back row) and defending champion Catch A Wave (nine, outside front).
Swayzee was $2 pre-draw, but has eased to $3.10. Catch A Wave has been $3.20 out to $4.80.
“The draw couldn’t have turned out much better,” driver Deni Roberts said.
“There was only (barriers) four and nine left when it came his turn to draw a gate and I thought ‘no, not nine again, please’.
“Four is great. He’s getting off the gate really well and I’d expect to work to the lead from there.
“It’s a huge advantage being in front and on the pegs at Gloucester Park and I’m looking forward to seeing what he can do.”
Co-trainer Greg Bond said it was a choice to keep Minstrel fresh with five weeks between runs.
“As he’s got older and we understand him better, it works,” he said. “We’ve got the facilities at home to get him right where we need him,” he said.
“We think he’s as good as ever and now he’s got the draw as well.”
Rival trainer Gary Hall Sr, who has exciting former Kiwi pacer Mister Smartee in the race, thinks Minstrel is close to unbeatable.
“Swayzee can’t beat him now. In fact, I’m not sure anything can, given he should just run straight to the front,” he said.
“Our only chance is to go forward early, get the one-one sit when Swayzee comes around and hope he attacks Minstrel and we can be the last horse standing.”
