Racing: Lyell Creek looks at second against awesome Italian

By MICHAEL GUERIN

The Butt brothers have had too long a season to start expecting miracles.

So even though they believe Lyell Creek is as good as he has ever been, they know they are probably running for second when he takes on the world's best trotter.

Lyell Creek is on a collision course with Italian stallion Varenne for the first time in the $US500,000 Nat Ray Trot at the Meadowlands this week.

Lyell Creek warmed up for his feature clash of the season with a winning qualifying trial at the Meadowlands last Saturday morning.

The New Zealand harness racing hero trotted 1:55, exactly the sort of hitout driver-cum-trainer Anthony Butt was hoping for.

But the enormity of what lies ahead was hit home to Butt on Sunday (NZ time) when Varenne made his United States debut in the Breeders Crown Trot.

The world champion smashed the world record and the best trotters in the US by four lengths with a 1:51 mile, four seconds faster than Lyell Creek had trotted 30 hours earlier.

While their efforts were under greatly different circumstances, Butt admits even a fully fit Lyell Creek could not beat a fully fit Varenne.

"He was awesome when we saw him in Sweden and he was even more awesome here the other night," said Anthony Butt.

"We won't be giving up without a fight but to be honest Varenne at his best is something else."

Varenne and Lyell Creek both competed in the Elitlopp in Sweden in May but have yet to meet as Lyell Creek raced in the first heat and did not make the final while Varenne won the second heat and two hours later the final.

"I was happy with the way Lyell trotted in his qualifier on Saturday and I think he is as good as he has been since he arrived in the US.

"Now all we need is a good draw and at least we will be in with a show. I think at his best he is as good as any of the US trotters up here."

Lyell Creek is likely to head to Canada after the Nat Ray for a brief campaign before being spelled and then Butt will return to Canterbury to rejoin brother Tim as stable driver.

"I can't wait to get Ants back because we have a good team and some horses racing for big money in the new season," said Tim Butt.

"We have only been racing the winter horses lately and their drivers have been doing a good job but when the big money is up for grabs I want Ants back in the sulky."

Anthony is likely to return to driving in New Zealand in late September, when Tim expects to have Interdominion champion Take A Moment back racing.

"I won't be taking him to Addington for the premier meeting on September 7 because he has a very long season ahead and I think that is a big early," said Butt.

"So we will kick him off a bit later and look at the Ashburton Flying Mile as his big lead-up to the New Zealand Cup carnival."

Take A Moment is still only the veteran of 17 starts and Butt says he expects him to be a better horse in the coming season, remarkable considering he overcame a 20m handicap to win the Trotting Grand Final this year.

"He is sounder and I think I understand him better too so hopefully we will be a better combination."

Former Auckland Cup winner Happy Asset will again be aimed at the New Zealand Cup along with stablemate Pocket Me, still the centre of a legal ownership dispute which is not expected to see him moved from the stable.

"Obviously I have never won a New Zealand Cup and would love to but to be honest I think the Miracle Mile is a more suitable race for Pocket Me.

"He has high gate speed and after breaking the Australian mile record at the Interdoms I think he get respect over there. My main aim early in the season is to get him a Miracle Mile run.

"But I won't mind winning the New Zealand Cup on the way either."