He’s got his hands on many of the big trophies harness racing has to offer, but it took master reinsman Anthony Butt a long time to finally capture victory in one of Victoria’s most iconic races.
After many tries, he eventually snared the Victoria Derby with Line Up (pictured) – a horse he also trained – last year, with the son of Bettors Delight going on to capture the NSW equivalent a few months later.
Butt is now chasing back-to-back success in the three-year-old classic and will partner Nathan Purdon-trained American Dealer in the heats of the Lather Up Victoria Derby this Saturday night in Bendigo.
He was at the controls when the horse won the Group 1 Queensland Derby in July, and after a short break and a change of stables, he returned to the track with a gallant third placing to Act Now at Kilmore last Friday night.
American Dealer is an equal $2.50 favourite to win the Victoria Derby Final on October 9 and sits on the top line of betting at $1.90 to take out the first heat of the series this weekend.
“He’s really stepped up the last two or three months,” Butt told Trots Talk.
“He was a pretty good horse in New Zealand and had a couple of good victories, including beating Krug a couple of times which is not easy to do.
“He went to Queensland and went to another level. He just raced super through the carnival and his Derby win up there was amazing. He had to sprint about three times during the run and still held them off.”
>> READ MORE: The Week Ahead: Classic battle brings stars to Bendigo
LISTEN TO BUTT’S FULL INTERVIEW ON TROTS TALK BELOW:
