Racing: Butts turn up pressure

Former Aussie pacer Flashing Red should outmuscle the opposition in the Canterbury Classic tonight.

If you are one of the army of punters backing Anthony Butt at Addington tonight, you won't have to look too hard to find him.

The south's leading driver says he will be in front in the two biggest races of the night.

Butt and his brother Tim have started the season at a frenetic pace, heading the training premiership and armed with a team of open-class and classic-race performers.

As tonight's meeting is the first premier one of the season, Anthony says they are ready to step up a gear.

"We aim our horses for the big races so they are ready to do the business this week," he said matter-of-factly.

The stable is likely to have the favourite in both features, with former Aussie pacer Flashing Red in the Fitness Canterbury Classic and Tuherbs in the Superstars Championship.

Butt says both can win their tactics will be similar. "They come into the race with a chance to lead and I think that would be ideal."

Flashing Red faces many of the south's best open-class pacers in the 1950m mobile feature but has two advantages - a good draw and his intimidation factor.

Since crushing Roman Gladiator in the Hannon Memorial two weeks ago, Flashing Red is now seen as the iron-horse of New Zealand pacing and Butt is keen to use that tonight.

"From barrier three I think he will have enough gate speed to get across at the start," he said.

"And once he is there I don't see too many who will be keen to take him on."

"I think this race is nearly perfect for him because he can roll nice, even sectionals and that won't give the others much time to attack.

"This really is his chance and he is ready to take it."

Aiding Flashing Red is the fact key rivals like Winforu, Waipawa Lad, London Legend and Roman Gladiator are not the type to attack three wide. So he could find himself a long way in front entering the last 800m.

Any early or mid-race pressure would help the swoopers, with any of the four previously mentioned capable of winning.

While Flashing Red should be able to bully his way to the front in his race, Tuherbs will have to overcome a lack of experience from a standing start to lead in the $50,000 Superstars.

Butt is not concerned.

"We have given him two or three standing-start trials this season and he has been one of the first out every time. This horse has really grown up since last season and I think he will be fine at the start."

That being the case, Tuherbs has to be the one to beat with the advantage of his front-line draw over key rivals Report For Duty (10m) and Pay Me Christian (20m).

The latter is the Sires Stakes Final and NZ Derby winner of last season who has been trialling well but would face a huge task off the backmark should he start in this race instead of race six, for which he is entered.

Report For Duty may be a better hope of upsetting Tuherbs as he has shown some x-factor in his short career and was impressive at Oamaru last start.

Earlier in the night, Butt opts for up-and-coming trotter Moment Of Truth as the one to beat from a strong stable representation against Tozzie in race two.

"He reminds me a little bit of a really top horse we had called Sonofthedon so he will be hard to beat."