KEY POINTS:
Champion New Zealand driver Anthony Butt faces two tough decisions today after his horror run in Australia continued.
Butt was suspended for two weeks for his luckless drive behind Foreal in the A$125,000 ($142,000) Ballarat Cup, won by favourite Sting Lika Bee on Saturday night.
Butt was found guilty of checking The Warp Drive after Foreal flashed into third, in a race where fellow Kiwi pacers Tribute and Winforu were also close up after big performances.
It was at least the sixth time Butt has been suspended in Australia in the last five years, most of those in Victoria.
He must decide today whether to appeal against the suspension or its severity and then hope he is granted a stay of proceeding that would enable him to drive in the A$500,000 Hunter Cup on Sunday.
And even if that eventuates he then has to decide whether to drive Foreal or Tribute, both of whom will be among the favourites for the race.
"If I do appeal and get the chance to drive in the race I honestly don't know which one I'd drive," admitted Butt.
He usually drives Foreal when the pair, both trained by his brother Tim, meet but believes Sunday's rich classic may suit Tribute better.
"Foreal has never had a standing start race and would only be 50-50 to go away so Tribute might be the best chance this week."
If Butt is unable to drive in the Hunter then Tony Herlihy, who partnered Tribute to fourth in the Interdominion Final last month, is likely to be offered the drive.
Gavin Lang could get the call to drive Foreal depending on whether Robin Hood, a dramatic failure on Saturday night, starts in the Hunter.
All three Kiwi pacers will have their supporters in what is shaping as the most even Hunter Cup in years, with Tribute likely to push for race favouritism.
The other New Zealand pacer in the Ballarat Cup, Mighty Cullen, finished well back and is now likely to miss Hunter Cup selection.
That will free up Herlihy to drive Trinute if needed and if he does he will have major winning chances in both feature races on Sunday as he also partners One Over Kenny, who was stunning winning her heat of the Australasian Trotting Championship at Ballarat on Saturday night.
The Phil Williamson-trained mare sat parked outside Interdominion champion Uncle Petrika and slayed him, making a huge impression on her Australian open-class debut.
It wasn't just that victory that boosted her chances in Sunday's A$150,000 final but the fact co-favourite Delft trotted lengths below his best and will now miss the final.
The other heat also saw a New Zealand victory, with Glenbogle making the most of a beautiful drive from Chris Alford to down A Touch Of Flair.
The latter was outstanding when flying home after getting locked away until late. He looks to be the only real danger to the New Zealanders in the trotting final.
