There are few things more dangerous for punters than lead-up races to Group 1s but trainer Bob Butt can allay those fears around his two winning chances in the $50,000 Mares’ Champs at Addington tomorrow night.
The $50,000 sprint is Addington’s first major race of the new season but is still a lead-up to the Group 1 Breeders Stakes in two weeks, a race with significantly more value for a mare’s future breeding career.
While many of tomorrow night’s favourites, such as the Butt pair of Manhattan and Callie’s Delight, and last-start Queen Of Hearts winner Allamericanlover, would usually be expected to improve in two weeks, Butt is taking a different attitude.
“My two mares are ready to go this week,” Butt told the Herald.
“We knew we would get a better draw than Allamericanlover this week than in the Breeders Stakes because this is preferential draw, so she might be too good for us if she draws well in two weeks.