When champion horseman Anthony Butt rolls on to Tabcorp Park Melton track he will be back where he belongs.

And meetings like tonight’s TAB Breeders Crown extravaganza at headquarters are just another reason Butt is moving his hugely successful operation back to Victoria.

Butt drives at least three serious winning chances tonight, fittingly they are all trotters, not that Butt isn’t a freak at driving pacers too. You don’t win seven Hunter Cups and almost every other pacing race that matters, including the Inter Dominion, by luck.

Yet for all his exploits driving the hoppled heroes, it is with the trotters that Butt’s stats defy belief.

It runs in his blood, with all the Butts from Canterbury (New Zealand) having the gift with trotters. Granddad, Dad, uncles, cousins, these days even sons of cousins are winning Group 1 trotting races.

But nothing like Anthony and his brother Tim.

Ants, as he is universally known, has driven two of the all-time greats in Lyell Creek and Take A Moment.

He has won New Zealand’s greatest trotting race the Dominion nine times - Dominion wins don’t come easy.

“They have been in our family’s blood the trotters and I have always loved them,” Butt said.

“And there are so many more opportunities for them down here than there are in NSW.”

Kiwi born, Butt first moved to Victoria, then north of the border where he struck up a lucrative association with big-spending owner Emilio Rosati.

Originally, he was coming back to Victoria for this Breeders Crown series but now the move will be permanent.

“I think the racing opportunities suit us better down here,” he said.

“Menangle has some really great things about it but I find our type of horses easier to place down here.

“And there are so many more trotting races, and Emilio and his wife Mary are getting far more into trotting.

“So we are happy to be back here and will start looking for somewhere to set up.”

Butt not only has the work ethic and breeding to succeed but is one of harness racing’s best form judges, so it pays to listen when he rates Have No Fear (R4 N1) and Mexicana (R9 N1) his best two winning hopes tonight.

“They both have the talent and the draw, which can be crucial around Melton,” says Butt.

He also trains and drives Elite Stride (R2 N11), who had looked a world beater in NSW but has raced below that very best form here.

“Maybe some of the others have caught up, but he is a very good horse and I think he really likes Melton. So don’t be surprised if he goes really well this weekend.”

When it comes to Butt and trotters, nothing would surprise.

MORE BREEDERS CROWN:
>> The flying filly fighting for a cure
>> Damian takes Major moment in stride
>> Bon, Adam, Gareth and Dan's $200 Game Plans
>> Jason Bonnington's Good Form Game Plan
>> Big Bets: Punters like Moths to the flame
>> Friday Form Panel previews Saturday night
>> Tribute on Finals night to Gavin Lang
>> Juanita readies for a Golden night

JASON BONNINGTON AND JACK HEVERIN PREVIEW EVERY RACE: