Brothers Tim and Anthony Butt combined to win their eighth Dominion Handicap at Addington yesterday and extended the family connection with the victor, Vulcan, owned and bred by their mother, Jenny.
"It is just a great family effort. There is just so much family support for this horse," Jenny Butt said after the $200,000 group one race for trotters.
She races Vulcan with Don McKenzie, of Rangiora. They bred Vulcan, who has won 11 races from 35 starts and $341,000 in stakes.
Anthony (reinsman) and Tim (trainer) had won the race with champion Lyell Creek in 1999, 2000 and 2004; Take A Moment (2001, 02 (dead-heat) and 03) and Mountbatten (2007). Tim also drove Simon Katz to win the race in 1987 and Tim was a part-owner of the 2008 winner, Stig.
"More often than not we have had the best horse in the race but today it was with a horse that got the best run," Tim Butt said. "He is really honest and game."
Vulcan came along the inner to down the pacemaker, Dr Hook, by a head with three lengths to Clover Don.
The favourite, I Can Doosit, left stride early and ran on for fifth.
"He can have a break now and I will take him to Melbourne in the new year for the Interdominion," Tim said.
Anthony heads to Sydney today. He has drives at Menangle tonight, including Hannah, Raglan, Hostile Grins, Trojan and Lisagain. He will remain to supervise the team in Sydney for the next few weeks, making periodic trips back to New Zealand.
River Field will join the Butt stable in Sydney next week.
