KEY POINTS:
Champion driver Anthony Butt has abandoned defending Dominion Handicap winner Mountbatten for stablemate Ray at Addington tonight.
And he says that may be his only chance of beating hot favourite Stig.
Stig opened a $1.85 favourite for tonight's $300,000 trot, the last great race of an incredible New Zealand Cup carnival.
And while Butt scored an upset in the Dominion last season with Mountbatten, he says he is looking to the future by choosing Ray as his charge tonight.
The 4-year-old has won eight of his 12 starts and his only defeats have come when he has galloped.
"I think he could be a very special horse," said Butt, who has driven the richest two trotters ever to come out of New Zealand in Lyell Creek and Take A Moment.
"He reminds me a little of Lyell Creek in that he runs the speed out of his rivals. I know he is only four but I think he can give Stig a fright.
"Whereas having raced Stig with Mountbatten lately I don't think he can beat him at the moment."
Butt says drawing the second line is a handicap for Ray tonight because is at his most potent when able to lead.
"We still might be able to get to the lead, if we did he would take some catching."
While Ray is on the road to being a superstar, Stig already is one.
He demolished most of our open class stars in the New Zealand Free-For-All last Friday and will only need to perform to that level tonight to take top honours again.
He does face starting from the outside of the second line but is usually fast from a standing start and will relish the 3200m.
Stig may not be actually trotting at his best, with a slight hiccup bothering him, but he is simply stronger than his opponents tonight so if he trots throughout he should win.
Idid It Myway is the best each way chance as he has yet to go a bad race this campaign and would unleash a super sprint if saved for one run off a hot pace.
The big question in the race hangs over the head of the north's best trotter and Rowe Cup winner Our Sunny Whiz.
At her best she would be second favourite but has not looked comfortable left-handed trotting even worse than usual that way last week. While she has the speed to win, it will be hard to back her with any confidence.
Springbank Richard, who opened at $21, looks the best blowout chance.
