Racing: Frisky Bute finally settles down

Badlands Bute lost a lot more than just his two hind shoes when he tore them off hours before the Auckland Cup.

That was also the end of his sex life.

Last season's dual Derby winner has been one of the flops of this harness racing season with his form plummeting as his testosterone levels soared during the summer.

The then stallion started to behave worse with every race meeting, his bad behaviour reaching a low point when he tore his shoes off by kicking out so hard at Alexandra Park just before he contested the Auckland Cup on December 31.

When Badlands Bute strode into the parade ring with his stallion equipment on display co-trainer Ray Green knew that was enough.

"He was becoming a danger to himself so as his owners we decided to geld him," said Green.

The West Auckland trainer knew they had made the right decision soon after the operation.

"As it turned out he had very large testicles which is why he hadn't been pacing properly. He had been pinching himself.

"Last season he was a beautiful pacer but that gait had started to falter. But now he is back to that fluent gait again."

His gait is not all that has improved since Badlands Bute became two stones lighter. "He is far more like his old self, and in many ways better. He has put back on weight and has a far better attitude."

The toughest test of the new, improved Badlands Bute comes at Alexandra Park tomorrow night when he takes on one of the hottest fields of the season in the $100,000 Taylor Mile.

And to make matters worse he has drawn barrier five, outside favourites Mainland Banner (two) and Baileys Dream (four).

Green is happy with how Badlands Bute has trained on since his comeback second at Cambridge two weeks ago in which he beat home tomorrow night's race-rival Molly Darling.

The draw will make the race a baptism of fire for young driver Barry Lee in the biggest race of his career.

Lee works for Green and training partner Robert Mitchell and will be the stable's No 1 driver from now on.

"The owners have made the decision they want to give Barry a chance to prove himself so he will be our main driver from now on," said Green. "He has been driving well so we are going to give him all the support we can."

That means Lee will have the pick of drives from the powerful Lincoln Farms operation, which is one of New Zealand's biggest buyers of quality yearlings every year.

Lee won't be the only reinsman in the race facing the most formidable test of his career though, with junior driver Hayden Cullen having been handed the reins on up and comer Mr Williams.

With his boss, Brent Mangos, committed to stablemate Molly Darling, Cullen will partner Mr Williams, who paced a blistering 55s last 800m at the Alexandra Park workouts on Monday.

His chances though have been dampened by drawing the outside of the front line in such a hot field.

He will be a $10 chance when the TAB opens fixed odds betting today, with Mainland Banner rated a $1.50 favourite ahead of Baileys Dream at a very generous $6.50.

Such is the depth of the race, pacers of the class of Mr Bojangles will open at $21 even after drawing handily on the second line.

Delft will open a $3 favourite for the main trot while Houdini Star's good draw will see him open a $2.50 top pick in the $60,000 Sires' Stakes Championship Trot.