Racing: Butt's season matching hopes

Kimberley Butt.
Kimberley Butt.
Kimberley Butt grew up around some of the country's greatest trotters.

So it might come as no surprise to see she is having a nice run with the square-gaiters as she enjoys a debut season which has already exceeded her expectations.

Butt produced her 10th win of the year behind Mach's A Flyin at Forbury Park last month.

Appropriately enough, Mach's A Flyin is trained by her employer, Mark Jones, who, along with her father, Anthony Butt, and uncle Tim Butt, has provided her with many drives.

''They've been really good to me and I'm on target with how I planned the season,'' she said.

''I wasn't too worried about numbers, but if it was around 10 for the season, I would have been quite happy.''

Three of her victories have come from just 19 drives behind the trotters - two of those with the Tim Butt-trained Princess Sophia and one with Astral Traveller.

The trio of victories continues her association with the master trotting trainer which goes back to her childhood days when the Butt brothers campaigned Lyell Creek all around the world.

''With Lyell Creek when I was growing up, I got to watch him and travel with him quite a lot.

When Lyell Creek was overseas, Take A Moment took up the mantle as the country's best trotter, although Kimberly Butt's reins-based experience with the two legendary trotters was a bit different from what you might expect.

''I actually rode both of them when they retired, but I don't think I ever drove either of them.''

 

Butt teams up with a trotter tonight when Trouble Ado returns to South Island racing in race 1.

The Brylin Boyz mare has yet to come out victorious in 30 starts and has been tried by three trainers during her career.

Her most recent racing has been in the Central Districts where her best result was a second at Manawatu in November before she returned to Burnham-Weedons trainer Phil Anderson.

''He's brought her back up. She's had a bit of a break since being up north,'' Butt said.

''She seems to have come back quite nicely - we're happy with where she is at the moment.

''We'll have to see how she goes because she hasn't had a trial or a workout so it could be a bit interesting first time up.''

Butt works at the Burnham arm of Jones's training operation, and her race 3 drive, Spangled Don, spends his time at the Woodend Beach stables.

''I haven't had too much to do with it. I think he was going quite nicely at the trials and hit a wheel.''

Butt is back behind Sunnivue Bay Boy (race 8) and plans to make the most of barrier 1 after last combining with him for a fifth on March 6.

''He ran home quite nicely after getting a bit of a knock when I drove him and he's had a couple of hard runs since then.

''We'll make the most of the draw and either stay in front or hand up to one he can follow through.''

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