KEY POINTS:
Rival trainers must be wondering what they have to do to steal a cup off Tim Butt and Phil Anderson.
The Cups Kings were at it again at Alexandra Park yesterday, snaring the $80,000 Franklin Cup after a perfect drive from brother Anthony Butt.
That enabled Report For Duty to get up the passing lane to deny Baileys Dream and Sly Flyin, both of who were unlucky after an early gallop and early check respectively.
The win continued a staggering run in major Cups for the Butt-Anderson stable in the last two years.
In that time they have won two New Zealand Cups with Flashing Red, the Auckland Cup with the same veteran freak, while they collected two Franklin Cups, a Kaikoura Cup and the Methven Cup.
The Butt brothers also won the Hunter Cup three years ago with Mister D G, as well as dominating the major 3200m trots in the last decade with Lyell Creek, Take A Moment and Mountbatten.
But what is really remarkable about yesterday's success is it came against two of the best pacers in the country with a horse who would rated in the stables top three pacers six weeks ago.
Butt and Anderson have managed to overcome the bizarre loss of Flashing Red back to his Australian trainer, Tribute taking a break and Foreal sticking to mobile racing against the mares. So they produce their fourth-stringer and the result is just the same.
Tim Butt was thrilled for the owners who put up the money to purchase Report For Duty this season.
"We paid good money for him and they have already got some back so I am rapt for them," said Butt.
"And we have to give a lot of credit to Patrick O'Reilly (former trainer) because he looked after this fella so well for his career until we got him."
Butt will continue to look after Report For Duty, resisting the temptation to aim him at the Australian features event, though his manners would make him an ideal Hunter Cup horse.
While beaten yesterday Baileys Dream was a superb second.
