KEY POINTS:
Harness bookmakers have got the Harness Jewels 2-year-old pacing fillies market wrong.
That is the opinion of trainer Tim Butt, who will have Exotic Lover in the $200,000 race at Ashburton tomorrow.
Exotic Lover is the equal second favourite at $4 alongside Lizzie Maguire, while Susie Maguire is the $3.80 top pick.
While Susie Maguire beat both Exotic Lover and Lizzie Maguire last time they met and can lay claim to being the country's best filly, Butt says she is not the hardest to beat on Saturday.
"She [Susie Maguire] is a top class filly but she really has her work cut out from barrier nine," he said.
"These races are only a mile and any horse all day who has to work hard from a wide draw is going to be in trouble.
"The way the draws have panned out Lizzie Maguire is the one to beat because she will do the least work."
Butt says Exotic Lover is spot on and all he wants now is a true pace.
"If they crawl early and then come home (last 800m) in 55sec then we are in trouble.
"But if they go hard and we get any cart into the race she can win for sure. She is a wee star."
Butt is also not conceding the 4-year-old trotting final tomorrow to Houdini Star.
That even though Houdini Star's last-start win sees him dominate the markets.
Houdini Star beat the Butt-trained Smart Seeker yet he says a repeat is not a foregone conclusion.
"I thought Smart Seeker was just as good last start as Houdini Star as we did more work early.
"We are going to have a go at crossing him at the start and I think we are as good a chance as he is."
