Racing: He's leaving on a jet plane

David Butcher is starting to feel like he lives in a plane - but his constant travelling has at least one upside.

It gives the Cambridge driver plenty of time to make one of the trickiest decisions of his career.

Butcher has been criss-crossing the Tasman and Cook Strait driving Winforu and Awesome Armbro as they chase group one glory.

Tonight he will be at Addington as Awesome Armbro attempts to win the New Zealand Derby then tomorrow he faces two more flights as he heads to Hobart to partner Winforu in the Interdominion Final on Sunday night.

And that is the race for which Butcher may have to decide his tactics before he gets on the track.

Winforu has drawn barrier four in the A$1.5 million ($1.75 million) climax to the series, a race certain to be dominated by Blacks A Fake.

With so much money up for grabs most horseman, Butcher included, are wondering how to stay close to the pace on the tight Elwick circuit so they are not unlucky.

After all, even if they can't beat Blacks A Fake, second in the richest pacing race in the world is worth more than winning the New Zealand Cup.

Butcher has to work out whether he wants to use Winforu's blazing gate speed to try and get to the markers early, from where he should be right in the firing line or to take a more conservative approach and hope his rivals go very hard.

Leading drivers will often say they will make that decision at the start when they see what the other horses are doing but Butcher doesn't get that luxury.

Winforu has become a stronger and more settled racehorse during his long Australian campaign and if Butcher wants him to leave the gate quickly he has to stoke him up in his preliminary to get his mind on the job.

If he decides to do that his racing pattern will be set in stone so he has to decide before jumping in the sulky whether he wants to burn early or stay out of the fireworks and hope for a miracle later.

"If I knew I could cross Be Good Johnny and Smooth Crusa early then I'd go forward because we could end up three deep or even in the trail," said Butcher.

"But there is so much gate speed across the front line I am not sure whether that is the best option.

"It also depends whether Blacks A Fake goes out hard to lead early or whether she cruises out and then tries to work forward. So I have some thinking to do."

Winforu has been the quiet Kiwi achiever in the series and has a great shot at big money on Sunday night, especially if he could trail or be three deep on the markers.

"I have been happy with his runs in the series and I actually think he went better last Sunday than a lot of people realise. I am not saying he is going to win but he is at least in there with a handy draw and in form so we have a chance."

Before then Butcher has another chance to upset in tonight's New Zealand Derby with Awesome Armbro, who has been the enigma of the 3-year-old pacing season.

He was an equine madman early in the season but has matured a lot in the last three months, making him a potent force in a crop that has been turned upside down by last Friday's bizarre Flying Stakes.

That race saw Monkey King come from behind Awesome Armbro to win in incredible fashion while hype horses Pay Me Christian and Jays Debut produced the worst performances of their careers.

That, along with the barrier draws, has thrown tonight's classic wide open.

Pay Me Christian is drawn to lead, from where he has been unbeatable in the past, and could start favourite.

But Butcher is hoping to stay close to him with Awesome Armbro.

"We follow him through at the start and will get our chance to get handy," said Butcher.

"The way we went last week we only need some luck to win."

On present form Monkey King is the one to beat but his wide second line draw means he could be a long way from the leaders when the capacity field settles.

With the right tow into the race the Great Northern Derby winner can complete the great double but he is still going to need luck as few New Zealand Derby winners come from near last.

Jays Debut was too bad last week to consider backing tonight even though he has enormous class so the best each-way bet looks to be Ambro The Thug. He was solid last week and will be better for the outing.

* New Zealand TAB fixed-odds markets for Interdominion pacing final at Hobart on Sunday:

$1.90 Blacks A Fake; $8 Slipnslide; $9 Be Good Johnny; $12 Foreal, Winforu; $15 Sweet Fame; $16 Lookslikelightning; $18 Flashing Red; $20 Cobbity Classic; $25 London Legend, Smooth Crusa; $40 Safari, Karloo Mick.

DOUBLE DREAM

* David Butcher will drive in both the Interdominion Final and New Zealand Derby this weekend.

* He has a big tactical decision to make on Winforu in Sunday night's A$1.5 million Interdom Final.

* New Zealand's other Interdom hopes are Winforu and Foreal.

* Winforu's stablemate Awesome Armbro is an upset hope in tonight's Derby at Addington.

* Tonight's meeting features the much-awaited clash between superstar juveniles Gotta Go Cullen and Mombassa.