The dominant Team Butt has conquered many a Victorian crown but the experienced former Kiwis are anxious ahead of tonight’s Jet Roofing Kilmore Pacing Cup.
Bettermatch has built a picket fence in New South Wales and now with trainer Tim Butt the six-year-old entire readies for his toughest test that could well dictate his season.
Still yet to break his metropolitan maiden despite 11 wins in his 13 starts, connections have aspirations for a season that could include a NZ Trotting Cup, Pryde’s EasiFeed Victoria Cup and Inter Dominion.
But, according to reinsman Anthony Butt, tonight’s $70,000 Group 2 opener for the Trots Country Cups Championship would be a crucial hit-out, not least to boost Bettermatch’s standing in handicapper rankings.
“He’s going to add something different to the race. He’s a bit of an unknown factor,” Anthony told RSN 927’s One Out One Back this morning.
“Tim hasn’t had him very long, only a few weeks, and he’s quite excited about him. Tonight will be a test for him and it will give us a really indication as to where he’s at.”
Bettermatch sits 24th on the rankings for the November 13 New Zealand Trotting Cup and, more pressingly, would likely need a strong performance, if not a victory, to get a start in the Grand Circuit season opener, the October 13 Pryde’s EasiFeed Victoria Cup at Tabcorp Park Melton.
“You think (a win tonight) would take him a fair few points up the rankings,” Anthony said. “The New Zealand Cup is probably quite ambitious at this stage, but as we said tonight we’ll give him a run in this sort of race and he will tell us exactly where he’s at.
“We may go home disappointed or we may go home with a pretty good horse. We are probably as in the dark as most people, but from all indications he’s a really nice horse and we will see what he does tonight.”
Needless to say a good result would have Grand Circuit dreams well and truly alive.
“This is a different level. He will have to take a step forward to be at that level, but we live in hope. That’s what we are all in horse racing for, living the dream.”
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