Butt brothers combine for Hunter Cup success

Reinsman Anthony Butt, who won his fourth Hunter Cup, with Mr Feelgood, on Saturday night. Photo...
Reinsman Anthony Butt, who won his fourth Hunter Cup, with Mr Feelgood, on Saturday night. Photo by Tayler Strong.
Anthony Butt, of Christchurch, is the most successful reinsman in the the 60-year history of the A. G. Hunter Cup after driving Mr Feelgood at Moonee Valley on Saturday night.

It was his fourth win in the race.

The group one race carried a stake of $A400,000.

Mr Feelgood is trained by Anthony's brother, Tim.

The same combination won the Hunter Cup with Mister D G in 2004.

Tim Butt took over the training of Mr Feelgood 11 weeks ago.

"He [Mr Feelgood] had just come out of quarantine and he hadn't raced for five months," Tim Butt said from Melbourne yesterday. The 6yr-old entire had been imported from the United States after being bought by prominent Queensland harness racing enthusiast Kevin Seymour (through his company Solid Earth Pty Ltd), Peter O'Shea, and Clinton Payne, both of Sydney.

He is the first standardbred racing venture for O'Shea, who has raced thoroughbreds.

Mr Feelgood was having his fourth start for the Butt stable.

He won the Shepparton Cup on January 24.

The Grinfromeartoear entire ran the 3065m on Saturday in 3.48, a 1.59.8 mile rate.

I Am Sam was second and Report for Duty, a stablemate of Mr Feelgood, finished third.

Mr Feelgood, who won the 2006 Little Brown Jug, a major race for 3yr-olds, was bought with a view to a proposed World Cup race and the Interdominion series in Queensland.

The World Cup has been abandoned.

The Interdominion is held on the Gold Coast, with heats on March 14 and 21 and the final of March 28.

"He will go straight to the Interdominion now," Butt said.

Anthony Butt drove Blossom Lady, trained by Derek Jones, to win the Hunter Cup in 1994 and 1995 from 20m and 30m handicaps.

Sundons Gift gave Victorian trainer Chris Lang successive Interdominion Trotting Finals on Saturday night.

Sundons Gift led for most of the way in the $A250,000 race and held off One Over Kenny by a length.

Sundons Gift rated 1.59.8 for the 2575m (mobile), the last 800m in 56.6.

Lang, who drove Sundons Gift, trained Galleons Sunset to win the final last year.

Galleons Sunset was driven by Derek Balle, of Pukekohe, who trained Lleyton H to win the consolation race for the Interdominion series on Saturday night.

Lleyton H was driven by David Butcher.

Sundons Gift is by Sundon, who sired the first three home in the final and Lleyton H.

Sundons Gift is raced by Neven Botica, of Perth.

Sundons Gift was bred by Trevor Allingham, of Pukekohe, from the Chiola Hanover mare Landora's Gift and sold for $24,000 to Tim Butt at the 2003 Australasian classic yearling sale.

He raced six times for Botica, Butt and the Windrush syndicate, with his best effort a fourth at Omakau in 2006.

Ohoka owners Dave and Katie Carville won a $A30,000 group three race for 4yr-olds on Saturday night with Ohoka Utah, 24 hours after a similar win at Forbury Park with Ohoka Nevada.

The Carvilles race Ohoka Utah out of the stable of Lance Justice.

Captain Joy justified his favouritism for the Victoria Derby when he led for most of the way and recorded a 1.59 rate for the 2575m (mobile).

The son of Mach Three has been entered for the Great Northern Derby on March 6.

Add a Comment