Racing: Butcher may need a lovely drive to upstage rivals

David Butcher. Photo / Christine Cornege

David Butcher says he is going to have to produce a perfect drive to win tonight's $125,000 New Zealand Oaks at Addington with De Lovely.

The only problem is that may be almost impossible.

Butcher and De Lovely face a second-line draw in the classic, but unlike last Saturday when they never got clear in the Nevele R Fillies Final, they are at least drawn off the markers at two on the second line tonight.

Last Saturday, they drew the inside of the second line, were forced four deep on the markers and are still looking for a run.

So tonight's draw is better, especially as De Lovely follows out Lancome, but Butcher knows he still has his work cut out.

The main reason is the other three favourites - and only other realistic winning chances - are all trained by Mark Purdon, so they won't be doing De Lovely any favours.

Which is fair, because there have been plenty of times De Lovely's trainer Geoff Small has had multiple horses in a major race and his stablemates haven't done their rivals any favours either.

Butcher, not one to moan or sulk about what happens on the track, realises this and knows there is little he can do about it. "I think they are the only four winning chances because they have looked better than those other fillies.

"But with so little between them the one who gets the run will probably win."

With Lancome and Meredith Maguire drawn to go forward in search of the early lead, they can control the race. If stablemate Secret Potion comes looking for the lead they would more than likely give it to her.

If De Lovely is launched on the same mission the answer may be no.

Which is something punters need to factor into the equation if they are considering taking the always short odds on De Lovely tonight.

Butcher says De Lovely was cruising when she didn't get clear last Saturday and believes the filly is the fastest of her sex he has driven.

If she can settle just off the speed and do no work for the first mile she can win, but she is unlikely to represent real punting value on the tote.

That could, ironically, lie with Secret Potion, even though she has won two group ones this season.

The filly seems to always be under-rated and because of her second-line draw others may attract money and push her starting price close to $4.

That would be worth taking because the draw won't worry her as she has no gate speed so she is still the one to beat.

Later in the night, Butcher will rein Sales Series consolation winner Gold Ace in the Sires' Stakes Final but says it is a big step up to beating The Muskeg Express, after his luckless performance last Saturday.

He does have more confidence about the chances of Zenola Seelster in the final leg of Pick6, in which victory would earn him a spot in the Jewels on June 5. "He is a nice horse and I think he is my best chance of a winner this week."