Racing: Family ties make mind up for Butt

Family allegiance rather than just raw ability has swayed Anthony Butt in one of the toughest decisions of his season.

The champion reinsman will partner Thanesan rather than stablemate King Kenny in the $70,000 Sires' Stakes Trot at Alexandra Park tomorrow night, which commits him to the former for next week's Northern Trotting Derby as well.

But he was left with the enviable situation of choosing between the two after they both starred early in their northern campaigns.

Thanesan thrashed older horses at Alexandra Park two starts ago before King Kenny stamped himself as an open class star of the future winning by 16 lengths in a fast time at Cambridge last start.

While three-year-old trotters are rarely the glamour boys in this part of the harness racing world, the pair will race for over $330,000 in the next six weeks, so Butt's decision is a significant one.

And he says the fact Thanesan is part-owned by his mother Jenny was partly behind his choice.

"I was probably always going to drive him and in the end the fact Mum owns him made my mind up," said Butt.

"I still think he might be the better of the two. He has real brilliance, which is rare in trotters, especially at this age.

"Three months ago there was no comparing the two but King Kenny has just kept improving and he might even be the tougher of them.

"But they are both very smart young horses and either of them would have been a good drive."

Butt made his decision before the draws for tomorrow night's 2200m group two event came out and with King Kenny getting barrier one and Thanesan the second line it looks like he made the wrong choice.

"I am not worried about that. King Kenny actually doesn't have high gate speed and my horse is two on the second line so should get a good run through.

"I still think I can win, but the other horse will be just as hard."

The Butt pair meet Paramount Geegee, who like King Kenny is by Woodlands Stud sire Pegasus Spur.

Pegasus Spur is also the sire of our best two-year-old trotter of the season so far in Flying Isa, who races at Addington tomorrow night.

His arrival on the trotting stallion scene along with the domination of Bettors Delight in the pacing scene has seen Woodlands Stud return to its glory days and they are back as a major Australasian player.

While Butt is confident with Thanesan tomorrow night, he is even more so with Raglan in a leg of Pick6.

"He nearly won the Interdominion consolation last start so comes in really well this week and has to be hard to beat."

He will partner Interdominion finalist Choise Achiever in tomorrow night's $100,000 Taylor Mile and says the gelding drawing wide at barrier six doesn't perturb him.

"He nearly crossed Blacks A Fake in the Inter Final last start.

"So he will get across most of these and I think he has a shot at leading," said Butt.

"He has come through the series well and I think he has a great chance."

TOUGH CHOICE

* Anthony Butt has had to choose between two of New Zealand's best young trotters.
*The pair meet on premier night at Alexandra Park tomorrow.
*Butt has big winning chances with Raglan and Choise Achiever.