But you could not get the grin off his face yesterday as the first of the trio to hit the track - Peak - won the New Zealand Trotting Free-For-All at Addington at just his second start in the southern hemisphere.
Butt's plan required stable clients with some spare cash and faith in his training ability to buy in to the syndicate, but he was understandably nervous about whether he had found the right trotters for the New Zealand racing style.
He has his answer now, as Peak survived attack after attack to win the $80,000 feature, vindicating Butt's bold venture.
''You've got all your good owners who support you,'' he said.
''They trust your judgement. It's a lot of money and a lot of risk. You're on a hiding to nothing, but it's good for the game and good for owners and hopefully people think it's good for racing in New Zealand.''
Butt always believed Peak would be competitive reasonably quickly, but wins in the Ashburton Flying Mile and yesterday's group 1 victory were perhaps even better than he could have wished for.
''He's still got some natural progression but for what he's done - he's been here seven weeks - it's pretty unreal.
''You know he's the real deal just looking at him.''
The immediate success means Butt will head north again next winter on a buying mission.
''We can buy a horse up there that's a champion, but it's what you have to pay for them.
''The hardest bit is finding that horse at that level that you can afford but be competitive down here.
''He's probably fitted the bill perfectly. Now we know what level we have to get.''
Peak will have his first standing start in the group 1 Dominion on Friday, which Butt hopes the 7yr-old will take in his stride, then Butt and Peak will plot a path to Australia via the North Island.
''I did a bit of homework on what [Sydney thoroughbred trainer] Chris Waller does.
''In his systems, he gives them two races then puts them aside. We've had to go three because of the Dominion and I'm going to put him aside.''
