Racing: Import not yet at peak

Tim Butt is adamant those odds should be around the other way. Photo / Geoff Sloan

Bookies have the market for today's Flying Mile at Ashburton wrong.

So says the man behind the two favourites, champion trotting trainer Tim Butt.

He trains Peak, the former Danish Derby winner who will make his debut after being imported from Sweden as part of a three-horse package. Butt also owns trotting hero Stig, who opened the $7 third favourite for the race behind Peak, who was the $3.60 opening favourite.

Butt is adamant those odds should be around the other way.

"Peak is a really good trotter and we are excited about him but he faces a huge task fresh-up," says Butt.

"He has spent a lot of time in quarantine after travelling and really I'd have preferred another trial under his belt before we raced.

"So while he can win, I think horses with fitness on their side, like Stig, actually have a better chance."

While Scandinavia produces some of the world's best trotters and Peak looks certain to be a big race player here, his favouritism for today seems to stem from a winning trial at Ashburton last Monday.

It was impressive enough, but his last 800m in 57 seconds is no faster than any of his rivals today would have trotted under the same circumstances. He does have the advantage of a good draw and being a tidy miler but still faces a huge task.

Stig has been costly for punters this season, his 11-year-old body showing signs of wear and tear and he doesn't look competitive when he gets back and wide in his races anymore.

Trainer Paul Nairn is expecting an improved performance today and will instruct driver David Butt to be aggressive. "He is trotting very well at home and I think he can still win races like this when he is in front, so that is where I'd like to see him."

While he is known more as a stayer, Stig did trot a 1:55.3 mile at Cambridge last season.