Racing: Better the devil you know ...

Either Devil Dodger is a very smart horse or Brian Hughes must be a pretty persuasive talker.

Maybe both. Because between the pair they had enough pull to lure super laid-back Canterbury horseman David Butt on to a plane to Cambridge for one drive tonight.

Butt will come north with the sole task of partnering Devil Dodger in a lowly $8000 event, a race which could be a pointer to a classic worth more than 31 times as much next week.

Both Devil Dodger and stablemate Courage To Rule will use tonight's race as a lead-up to the $250,000 New Zealand Derby at Addington next Friday, in which Butt will drive Devil Dodger.

He takes over from regular reinsman Brent Mangos, who is committed to staying home to drive Bettor Cover Lover in the Caduceus Club Classic at Alexandra Park, with next Friday being one of the few times New Zealand's two premier tracks hold group one races on the same night.

"I think it is a terrible clash but Brent has to stay home to drive his filly and I wanted whoever was going to be driving Devil Dodger in the Derby to have a sit behind him this week," said Hughes.

"I get on well with David so I rang him and asked him to come north for the drive and he was happy to do it."

Hughes says after working Devil Dodger and the better-performed Courage To Rule together on Tuesday morning he doesn't know which one he favours more tonight.

"They are such different types of horses," he said.

"Devil Dodger might have a little bit more change up speed whereas the other fella has shown he can race tough.

"And Courage To Rule might have a bit more natural gate speed, although Devil Dodger has rarely drawn well enough to show his."

The pair look a class above their rivals tonight so tactics between them should decide the race and provide punters who pick it right a handy start to their weekend punting.

With his gate speed and toughness it wouldn't surprise to see Courage To Rule head forward early and be the one to catch.

If Devil Dodger can settle in the trail he might have a shot at gunning his stablemate down but the Cambridge straight passing lane is a short one and Courage To Rule deserves to start favourite.

While Hughes will focus on his two star three-year-olds this week before they fly to Christchurch next week, he will also unleash two strong winning chances at the Hawera meeting on Saturday.

The improving Asafa Powell gives the stable a strong winning chance in the last race on Saturday as well as in the Hawera Cup on Monday, although the latter is shaping up as a much stronger field.

Asafa Powell can be a bit one-paced for the elite Alexandra Park racing so the big, taxing Hawera track should suit his racing style.

"He won at this meeting last year so the grass won't be a problem," said Hughes. "I think it suits him because he is a good sticker who keeps going.

"He has the manners to be good from a stand so I think he will go close down there."

Green and training partner John Green also send handy maiden trotter Toggle to Hawera where she will look to make up for a costly gallop at Cambridge last Saturday.

She was cruising in the trail when she galloped and Hughes is adamant she would have won.

"She has got some ability and is a handy maiden so she will be hard down there." Those wanting to back his judgment will need to be punting earlier than usual, with the first race at Hawera scheduled for 9.38am.

DEVILISH DRIVE
* Canterbury reinsman David Butt will travel to Cambridge for just one drive tonight.
* He partners New Zealand Derby aspirant Devil Dodger in race two.
* He and stablemate Courage To Rule have raced with distinction against the best 3-year-olds in Australasia.
* Trainer Brian Hughes will also have a select but strong hand at Hawera on Saturday.