Racing: Butt not counting on victory

Harness racing trainer Tim Butt. Photo / Brett Phibbs

Don't expect a repeat of the Peak miracle trainer Tim Butt pulled off last season when Imperial Count makes his New Zealand debut at Addington tonight.

The former open-grade North American trotter kicks off his Kiwi career in the Ordeal Trotting Cup, clashing with local trotting queen Habibti.

As the winner of more than $850,000, Imperial Count would be up to our top trotters if he could reproduce his best after a disappointing first year at stud.

Butt pulled off a remarkable training feat under similar circumstances last season when he produced Peak, who had done all his racing in Scandinavia, to beat our best trotters in his first two New Zealand starts after a huge break from racing.

Yet he is not confident of repeating that tonight. "This horse has needed to be managed because he injured himself before he went to stud and the reason he is back racing is because he only got 15 mares," said Butt.

"Clearly he is very good but his is a different situation from what Peak was last season and I would be happy if he could finish in the top three this week.

"We are more taking him there to see how he goes.

"You have a couple of frontrunners in The Fiery Ginga and Clover Don so they will go hard early and both Habibti and Sheemon are very good horses so will be hard to give a start to.

"This fella has run a couple of 27-second quarters [400m] at the trials but it is hard to see him winning."

Imperial Count has also been handicapped, albeit fairly, by his North American form, with tonight's draw based on career earnings so he has to start from the outside of the front line.

Habibti deserves favouritism after her outstanding return to racing last Friday, when she overcame an early gallop to make up 20 lengths on the leaders and wear down King Of Strathfield.

That was a timely reminder of just how good she is and she can win one of our great trots this season if she can maintain that form, with the return to a mobile start tonight doing her no harm.

Sheemon has developed from age-group squib into a serious open-class horse, with his Jewels win in May preceded by a huge second in the Rowe Cup.

He has become a potent follower so should get a tempo to suit but is at a slight disadvantage in race fitness.

Meanwhile, Butt rates Pass Them By a big hope in Sunday's Hannon Memorial at Oamaru.

"He went great at Addington last Friday and without Christen Me and the real guns there I think it will be down to him, Tiger Tara and Jason Rulz."

Peak is unlikely to race this year after battling soreness and is more likely to be set for Australian races in March.