Mr Feelgood can defend his Interdom title
Canterbury harness racing trainer Tim Butt is starting to think Mr Feelgood can successfully defend his Watpac Inter Dominion crown in Sydney. After a frustrating start to this season, Mr Feelgood has turned the corner over the past two weeks.
The former North American star followed a win at Melton's Tabcorp Park on January 8 with a fantastic second in last Saturday night's Bendigo Cup.
"He's back on track," Butt beamed. "There have been some really encouraging signs in his last couple of runs and it's given us confidence in him again.
"His win at Melton was excellent then I thought he ran at least as well, maybe even better given how the race was run, at Bendigo.
"Sammy Maguire's a really nice horse and he dictated in front so our guy did a great job to make up so much ground in a quick last half."
Sammy Maguire's last 800m was a blistering 55.4sec and Mr Feelgood made up plenty of ground from back in the field for a close second.
"He just wasn't firing at home (NZ) in spring time, but he's kept on improving since we sent him across to Melbourne in late November," Butt said.
"He's really thriving and you're seeing it on the racetrack."
Butt said Mr Feelgood's next run would be in Saturday week's $125,000 Barastoc Grand Circuit Ballarat Cup followed by his defence of the $400,000 Barastoc Grand Circuit Hunter Cup at Moonee Valley on February 6.
"Then he's off to Sydney to prepare for the Inter heats," Butt said.
"I'm yet to finalise stabling for him because I'd like to be able swim him as part of his training.
"He's been doing that at Gavin's (Langs) place and I think it's been a big help."
Mr Feelgood created history on the Gold Coast last season when became the first North American import to win an Inter Dominion Final.
Sammy Maguire which is currently ranked 33rd for the Championship will certainly get a lift in his position when the third rankings are released next week.
Article written by:Sean VELLA
Courtesy Harnesslink
Son of Christian Cullen too smart in Cup
Cullen’s Creek -
The well bred Cullen's Creek continued his advance through the harness racing grades with a stylish win in the Central Otago Trotting Cup (2600m mob) yesterday (Saturday - December 02) on the Omakau grass track in Central Otago.
The Tim Butt and Phil Anderson trained son of Christian Cullen, was taken to the front by leading driver Anthony Butt, from where he was able to dominate his opposition, eventually running out a comfortable 1 3/4 length winner over the Dean Taylor trained Pretty Dollylbird (Live Or Die), with a further 1/2 length away to the Robbie Holmes trained Biella Star (Mattuity). The overall time a handy 3.16.6, last 800 in 58.3 and the final 400 in 27.9 on the 1200m all weather circuit.
Cullen's Creek is from a family well known to the Butts, being out of Kahu del, he is a half brother to the well performed Swan Creek (Vance Hanover) 8 wins, and Harnett's Creek (Soky's Atom) 13 wins. And a close relation to arguably the greatest modern day standardbred of all time, Lyell Creek (Roydon Glen) 56 wins.
The stable produced another winner yesterday, with trotter Ronnie Coleman also grabing victory, this time in the hands of junior driver Chris Butt. Driven economically throughout, the son of Muscles Yankee was angled into the clear at the 300, and showed too much gas for his rivals, scoring easily by 5 1/4 lengths. Butt junior was registering win number six for the season, and is currently roughing it in the deep South as caretaker trainer for Butt/Anderson team.
Sleeping under the stars and living at one with nature,seems to be appealing to the young man as he settles in to his new enviroment...for the time being at least. "I've been staying at the Cromwell Racecourse since Boxing Day, Im in a tent, which is ok, cause there is plenty of other horseman staying here too. The meals are pretty simple and we are not far from the pub, so it's quite convenient," according to Butt. The 18 year old is in his second season of driving and has driven 13 winners to date.
The focused young horseman would love to qualify for the junior drivers championship, and just continue to drive winners as his short term goals. But he is getting a great deal of enjoyment from sharing in the ownership of exciting two year old filly, I Have A Dream, with Mum Karen. The classy daughter of Bettor's Delight was impressive at Winton beating horses of both sexes, and looks destined for better things to come. "She's beautifully gaited and has speed, so those attributes should help, we expect her to do a pretty good job."
I Have A Dream will race next in Auckland, where Chris Butt will continue his association with the filly. In the meantime, it's toasted sandwiches for tea at the Billy Heads caravan in preparation for Roxburgh tomorrow. But the young man on his wilderness adventure, will have till after Cromwell on January 7, before he gets to taste Mum's cooking again.
Article written by Steve DOLAN
Courtesy of Harnesslink
9/10/09
"Report For Duty Sold To Perth"
Grand campaigner for the stable Report For Duty has been sold to Perth Trainer Greg Bond.
Report For Duty was purchased by Premier Stables in the spring of 2007 and won such races as the Franklin Cup, Interdom 08 Heat and the 2008 Kaikoura Cup. He was placed in the 2008 NZ Cup, Tasmanian Pacing Champs and the last 2 Hunter Cups. He won over $400 000 for the stable.
Greg Bond has had tremendous luck with horses brought from Premier Stables. These include Money Magnet, {Mister} Odds On and {In} The Force who won the 2009 West Australian Derby.
12/09/09
"New Sponsor for Anthony Butt"
Hyland Sportswear from Melbourne, Australia is the new sponsor of Anthony Butt for the 2009/10 season.
Hyland Sportswear is the manufacturers and distributors of Racing Colour’s and Apparel. Hyland's product a full range of high quality Harness Racing Products including Colour’s and Trousers.
Hyland Sportswear specialize in extra lightweight race gear for Jockeys, as well as individually designed racing and harness colours for all owners and trainers. Race clubs and Sponsors can also purchase an array of race day products and promotional items.
Please click on link to Hyland Sportswear, to view their full range of products.
News 07/08/09
Aimee Edmonds has rejoined the team at Premier Stables in a role where she will be in charge of the office side of the stable. Tim and the team are well aware of the importance of communicating with all our owners, so with our new website and regular emails to all Premier Stable's clients, we hope to enhance the experience of racing a horse with us.
Aimee is well known both in the Industry and also with most of the owners at Premier Stables, so she is the ideal person to carry out this role. Already we are getting very positive feedback from our owners, who really appreciate the emails and phone calls on a much more regular basis.
We hope to have as many owners as possible on our email database, but if you think you aren't on there, please let us know at premierstables@xtra.co.nz and we will add you.
In other news, our Cup horses are getting through their paces in grand style in the countdown to the new season. Mr Feelgood, Tribute and Report For Duty are all been hoppling for some weeks now and Tim is really happy with all 3. At this stage, the plan is for them to have their 1st run at the Ashburton trials on the 25th August.
All going well, they will step out on racenight on the 18th September in the Avon City Ford Cup.
Tim Butt is acutely aware of the gargantuan task Mr Feelgood faces in Saturday night's $50,000 Neatline Homes Shepparton Cup, but he couldn't be happier with the way the boom American import performed at his Australian debut.