A forgotten star will bolster the shock return of one of New Zealand's most accomplished horsemen at Alexandra Park tomorrow night.
Outstanding reinsman David Butcher will drive on racenight for the first time in three months tomorrow, making an earlier-than-expected return after suffering serious internal injuries when kicked in thestomach by one of the horses he trains.
Butcher was already well ahead of the expected medical schedule when he suggested he might return to driving at Cambridge next week but brought the timetable forward even further after driving in a corporate dual sulky race last Thursday.
The Inter Dominion, Auckland and New Zealand Cup winning driver will have some serious horsepower in front of him on his first night back at the office. His key drive is forgotten pacing star, Besotted, who has not raced for 16 months but that last campaign saw him claim some of the biggest scalps in harness racing.
Besotted won the Taylor Mile in May of last year, downing among others, Adore Me and Franco Nelson, who went on to quinella the New Zealand Cup six months later as well as Hunter Cup winner Arden Rooney.
He was robbed of his 6-year-old season by suspensory issues but trainer Ray Green says the high-class pacer is ready for his return.
"Like any horse who has been away from racing for that long he will improve with a few runs but to me he feels as good as when he was last racing," says Green.
"He has trialled twice against Ohoka Punter lately and the way he went against him at the workouts last weekend I think we have a shot at beating him.
"We have deliberately given him a long, slow build-up so he has been in work for six months."
Besotted and Ohoka Punter dominate the race and will be the first open-class pacers seen out in the north this term, although Besotted is not preparing for the New Zealand Cup, with the Auckland Cup, now moved to New Year's Eve at Alexandra Park, his main aim.
Besotted won't be the only serious horse Butcher partners on his return as he will also drive exciting 3-year-old Art Form.
He bolted to a seven-length win at Alexandra Park last start and races in a super strong lower-grade race tomorrow night, which doubles as the final trial for several star 3-year-olds before next week's Sires' Stakes heat at Cambridge.
