So when he says Mah Sish is ready for the $25,000 Hannon Memorial tomorrow, it pays to listen.
The tough son of Mach Three warmed up for tomorrow's feature race with a very tidy trial win at Addington on September 2, downing stablemate Greenburn Creek by a head, with reigning New Zealand Cup champion Terror To Love back in fourth.
Butt was driving Pass Them By - one of four pacers in the trial trained by his brother Tim - but was happy to see Mah Sish hit the line well after he also won a trial at Rangiora on August 26.
''We couldn't be happier with him at this stage,'' Butt said.
The TAB harness fixed-odds bookmakers installed Mah Sish as a $2.40 favourite when the market opened on Wednesday afternoon - a price Butt felt was entirely fair.
''He's a class horse - he's proven on the Grand Circuit level, and he's probably got the best record in the race, so he deserves to be favourite with the way he's been trialling.
''He's had a good break since the Miracle Mile, and he's come back well.''
The 7yr-old has drawn barrier eight in the nine-horse field, but Butt is relaxed about where to place Mah Sish if things get awkward early on.
''He's a pretty adaptable horse. He can sit in or do a bit of work so I've got no real set plans. He's here to win so if they are walking, he'll be coming round to ensure the pace is honest.''
Choise Achiever did not earn as much praise following an ''adequate'' run for seventh in the Maurice Holmes Vase last week but Butt expects improvement from the Courage Under Fire gelding, to be driven by Mark Jones.
''He was probably a bit flat footed at the top of the straight.
''It was a bit of a walking race and they went off at the 400m but he didn't really make any or lose any ground and he felt quite strong on the line.
''He's come along in leaps and bounds since that run and Tim's really happy with him.''
Madiba Magic is the stable's best chance on the day, and it could also provide Butt's daughter Kimberley with her first winning drive in the one-win 2600m mobile pace.
''Kim drove him the other day and he went really good at the trials. We think he's a pretty good horse who will take a bit of beating.''
The Christian Cullen entire warmed up for tomorrow's race with a smart trial at Addington on September 2, recording a 1.59.3 mile rate for the 1950m when beating New Zealand Cup nominee Elusive Chick.
''He's always been a nice horse. Tim's got a big opinion of him, so he'll go through the grades this time in.''
Fellow Cup nominee Cam Before The Storm (race 6) disappointed punters at Methven on September 1, but Butt thinks a couple of factors may have caught the 5yr-old out.
''He had only had one soft trial and he might have got caught undone on the softish grass track that day at Methven, when it was a little bit dead.
''He's had another trial since and went quite good, so I'm expecting him to go a bit better.''
Astral Traveller (race 8) rounds out the brothers' team at Oamaru, and based on his trial win over open-class trotter Clover Don at Motukarara on Monday, he will be a big chance fresh-up.
''He raced in some pretty good company last year, so he's got to be a good each-way chance too.
''He trots well and he's got lovely manners, so he'll work through the grades too.''
Three to watch
Mah Sish
This year's Hunter Cup winner is the top-ranked horse without automatic entry on the New Zealand Trotting Cup rankings - and for good reason. He's a great stayer, and can even sprint well, as shown at the Addington trials earlier this month. He's fresh-up tomorrow, but is more than capable of winning the Hannon.
Franco Ledger
Probably the fastest horse over 200m in New Zealand when he's on song. He was perhaps a bit flat at Addington last week, and the passing lane might not have been his go either, but if he gets his markers run and a late dab down the outside at the field, he could replicate last year's win.
Four Starzzz Flash
The staying prowess has always been there for this son of Four Starzzz Shark, with wins in the Ashburton Cup and the Central Otago Cup, but he was superb in the Maurice Holmes Vase last week. There's no reason why he can't show the same level of toughness at Oamaru tomorrow.
Updates
Additional information for meetings today.-
M4 Marton JC
Riders:
Race 10: Mash - J Shackleton (a3).
Scratchings:
Race 2: Enforza.
Race 3: Woody Strode.
Race 7: Sworntoperfection.
Race 8: Forefront.
Race 10: Kennys Chance.
Weather, fine; track, heavy 10; rail true.
M2 Whangarei RC
Scratchings:
Race 2: Repulse Bay.
Race 5: My Scotsgrey.
Race 7: Celtic Boy.
Race 9: Reka.
Weather, fine; track, dead6; rail true.
