Racing: Butcher very bullish on Cowgirls

Cowgirls N Indians (2) wins her semifinal of the Australasian Breeders Crown at Melton last Friday. Photo / Harness Racing Victoria

When is a secret weapon not so secret?

When every racing fan in one country knows about it, but only a few in another country.

Anybody who saw superstar juvenile filly Cowgirls N Indians come from near last to win the Harness Jewels in June knows the Kiwi filly is at her best when saved for one run.

Under those circumstances she has even come from midfield to down subsequent Sires' Stakes-winning colt Lets Elope at Cambridge, a rarity for anything but the absolute best fillies.

But as far as Australian punters are concerned, most have only seen Cowgirls N Indians race once, and that was when she led and won her semifinal of the Australasian Breeders Crown at Melton last Friday.

Considering she had led to win her two previous starts in New Zealand, even Australian punters doing a moderate amount of research could be excused for thinking Cowgirls N Indians won't be ideally suited by her second line draw in tomorrow's A$312,000 ABC final at Melton.

But champion driver David Butcher says being drawn two on the second line is no concern for Cowgirls N Indians and could even turn into an advantage.

"I know the Aussies probably don't realise it yet because she led last week but she is even better coming from off the speed," Butcher told the Weekend Herald.

"She is so fast she can really unwind off a good pace, which I can see us getting this week.

"That night she ran down Lets Elope at Cambridge she sprinted so fast she caught me by surprise."

Butcher expects to punch through behind some fast beginners at the start tomorrow and then pounce when Cowgirls N Indian's rivals feel the pinch as juveniles invariably do on Breeders Crown day, coming at the end of an exhausting season.

Cowgirls N Indians' main, and some would say only, rival La Machane is drawn to reach the lead inside the first lap but if she does achieve that cheaply then Butcher has the option of moving forward to get handy before the bell.

Either way, anything approaching $2 for Cowgirls N Indians will be good money.

She is clearly the best chance of a New Zealand pacing win at tomorrow's A$1.5 million meeting, with Waikato trotters Paramount Geegee (race one) and Flying Isa (race three) also hot favourites.

The 3-year-old fillies' final with Kiwi chances Tatijana Bromac and Victors Delight looks one of the more intriguing races on the day.

Neither New Zealand filly is absolute top class but neither are their opponents and Butcher says Victors Delight has a realistic winning chance.

"She was a good second last week and I think if they go hard she can upset some of them," says Butcher, who has won six ABC finals.

"I thought Rainbow Dasher, who beat us last week, might be hard to beat again." The TAB will open fixed odds on all ABC races tomorrow morning and the meeting will receive the most in-depth Trackside television coverage of any Australian harness meeting all year.

That should provide a fix for harness racing punters who missed Friday night racing last night because Addington was abandoned.

Super Sunday

* Nine NZ horses compete at tomorrow's Australasian Breeders Crown meeting at Melton.

* Four of them will start favourite, three could be odds-on.

* Cowgirls N Indians, Flying Isa and Paramount Geegee are all looking to complete the Harness Jewels-ABC double.

How Kiwis rate

* Paramount Geegee (R1, No.3): Defending champion who has been awesome this year. Should lead and win against moderate bunch.

* Flying Isa (R3, No.4): Brilliant trial on Tuesday shows he is ready. Should follow in stablemate's hoof prints.

* You Rock (R3, No.7): All right when second at Geelong last week. Has speed but will cover extra ground. Bolter.

* Our Sunnys Dream (R3, No.10): Has speed but usually works too hard. Not liked.

* Cowgirls N Indians (R4, No.10): Effortless in semifinal last week and better coming from off speed. The one to beat.

* Franco Jamar (R5, No.1): High-speed pacer and all right third in last Sunday. Can win if he trails Lanercost.

* Tatijana Bromac (R7, No.7): Easy semi win last Friday but tough draw. Can win but looks under the odds in early markets.

* Victors Delight (R7, No.11): Much improved and good second last Friday. Hot pace would suit.

* Franco Lordship (R8, No.9): Looks outclassed in hot race.