As much as trainer Steve Telfer is looking forward to getting back to Alexandra Park tonight, he is also pleased to have his no-so-secret weapon back as well.
For the last two weeks, Telfer has been sending teams to Cambridge requiring horsepeople from that region to assist in getting them ready for the races, and using Waikato drivers as Aucklanders couldn't leave the region.
He still had plenty of success, with the bonus of being able to call on David Butcher to drive many of his Cambridge horses, but Stonewall Stud head trainer Telfer's No1 stable driver is Butcher's son Ben, who like his boss has been trapped in Auckland.
"We are really looking forward to having Ben back driving even though we have been very fortunate with the standard of drivers we have been using at Cambridge," said Telfer.
"Ben is a big part of our success. It is really valuable to have a senior, professional driver like him able to drive horses in work every day.