Racing: Big night Butt no certainties

Tim Butt's stable stars all have question marks dangling over their heads as they attempt to win feature races on both sides of the Tasman in the space of just a few hours tonight.

The problem is one of his stars is too old and rusty (Mister D G), another might be too inexperienced (Genius) and the other may not have the gate speed to take advantage of her ace draw (Foreal).

"The way it is shaping up it could be a great night or a shocker," admitted the Canterbury trainer yesterday.

Butt's best horse, Mister D G, returns after an eight-month break from the track in tonight's open-class pace at Addington, an event catering for the leftovers from last week's New Zealand Cup.

While that gives him the advantage of being fresher than his battle-scarred rivals, as an eight-year-old Mister D G might be too fresh.

"At his age, after all the leg problems he has had, I am sure he will need the run," said Butt.

"We know he is the best horse here but at this level fitness is everything and he lacks it at this stage.

"So he will be driven for luck because I expect him to keep improving over the next month."

That means tonight's pacing highlight should be dominated by two of the unlucky horses of the cup carnival in Bobs Blue Boy and White Arrow.

Bobs Blue Boy produced an enormous performance for fifth in the New Zealand Free-For-All last Friday and should be able to work forward and get handy tonight without too much effort, making him the horse to beat.

White Arrow appeared to be feeling the very hard track last Friday so will be better for a week between races and Likmesiah looks the best of the rest.

Just 30 minutes after the open pace Mister D G's stablemate Genius faces the toughest test of his career in the $100,000 Dominion Handicap.

The winner of six of his eight career starts Genius is one of the few bright stars on the open class trotting horizon and was impressive winning over tonight's 3200m distance 10 days ago.

"He wasn't quite as good when he won again last Friday but I think he was getting over the first day win," explains Butt.

"He is a lot better now though and worked really well on Wednesday morning.

"It is a huge ask for him to win this after just eight starts but the open-class horses aren't as strong as usual and I think he can do it with some luck."

Aiding him in the luck department will be champion driver Tony Herlihy, who will partner both Genius and Mister D G tonight in a rare outing in the Butt stable colours because regular stable pilot Anthony Butt will be in Sydney to drive Foreal.

While Genius is good enough to win the Dominion, favourites will be the Phil Williamson-trained stablemates Jasmyn's Gift and Allegro Agitato.

Allegro Agitato is the best trotter in the country but can be a nutcase from a standing start so manners will be the key to her performance tonight. If she behaves she should win.

Williamson instead opts for Jasmyn's Gift as his better chance because she is more likely to go away from the standing start.

"Allegro is faster but Jasmyn may be tougher," says Williamson. "But for this type of race I think Jasmyn is the better bet."

Pompallier, Play On, Toomuch To Do and Some Direction are among the other chances in a very open field.

Soon after Addington finishes Butt will turn his attention across the Tasman where Foreal is a warm favourite to win the A$100,000 ($107,000) Ladyship Mile at Harold Park in Sydney.

The exceptional filly of last season paced a 1:53.8 mile when second to Sly Flyin at Newcastle last Saturday and looks ideally drawn at barrier one tonight. But looks can be deceiving.

"She is not a super-fast beginner and we know the horses in Sydney can be quick off the gate so the start is the whole race for us," admits Butt.

"She got off the gate well at Newcastle and Ants will be giving her a stir up in her preliminary because we know she almost certainly has to lead to win.

"I think she can do that so I give her a great chance."

If Foreal is successful tonight she is likely to be invited to next Friday's A$500,000 Miracle Mile and Butt says he would jump at the chance to start.

"Anything can happen in the Miracle Mile depending on where you draw and for her broodmare value alone we would start."

While Butt has his worries over all three of his big guns tonight he has none with Dudinka's Cullen, who will be a hot favourite in race three at Addington.

He was impressive winning last Tuesday and Rameses had to pace a national record to beat him last Friday. "He has come through that well and I think he is our best chance of the weekend."