Racing: Partnership seeks to repeat Hunter Cup win

David Butcher was the toast of Moonee Valley racecourse a year ago after his daring drive on Elsu clinched a stunning victory in the $A500,000 Hunter Cup.

Some people may ask what was daring about the drive. After all, Elsu sat three wide outside the leaders for the final 1400 metres of the Group One classic.

The daring part was that Butcher had the confidence to drive Elsu in that manner, because the muscular entire son of Falcon Seelster was not previously known for his stamina and toughness.

"Looking back on Elsu's career I knew he was tough enough to make his own luck in a race after I drove him that way to win the New South Wales Derby as a 3-year-old," said Butcher.

"You don't have to drive a horse tough all the time to win big races and Elsu was such a lovely balanced athlete, that he was deadly when you gave him a sit off the speed."

Butcher and Patumahoe-based trainer Geoff Small return to Moonee Valley today in search of back-to-back Hunter Cup victories.

However, this time Butcher will be driving the Small runner Winforu in the Group One feature.

The In The Pocket-sired, 5-year-old entire clinched a start after an impressive last-start victory in the Moonee Valley Cup.

Butcher was impressed with the performance, but was quick to underline one important issue when discussing win prospects in the Hunter Cup.

"Winforu has drawn out wide and although he does step quickly from a standing start we are going to need racing luck to win," he said.

The top reinsman feels he will need a few factors to fall in his favour at the start.

"We will need to get over handy to the speed without doing any work and he is capable of winning if that happens."

Butcher says there isn't a standout racehorse among the present batch of free-for-allers in Australasia this season.

"There isn't a horse which can make his own luck and win.

"The one who gets the cheap run without doing any work will win the Hunter Cup.

"If Winforu does no work at the start and is close to the speed he'll be hard to beat."

The decision by Small to base Winforu in Australia for the greater part of the Grand Circuit racing series this season had helped to toughen the pacer up physically and mentally, said Butcher.

"This is the first full season of racing against the free-for-all horses for Winforu and it has taken the horse a while to adjust to the tougher racing style.

"He has come from racing against his own age to taking on older horses and it takes these younger horses a while to adjust.

"He is now so settled and relaxed from a standing start and that has come about by all the travelling and racing he has done in Australia this season."

Butcher said that when Winforu won the Moonee Valley Cup it was the first time he had had the opportunity to ask some serious questions about his stamina and ability and he delivered.

Winforu was not inferior to any horse in the field, but his winning chance would depend on how the race was run.

Fellow New Zealand-trained Free-For-All star Howard Bromac will be the centre of betting attention, but punters should consider Winforu, after that clinical last-start victory under similar conditions.


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