KEY POINTS:
Tim Butt is not conceding the title of Australasia's best trotter without a fight.
Butt is the co-trainer of Mountbatten, who has roared through the classes from one-win grade at the start of the season to win the $150,000 Dominion Handicap last month.
His next step could be
the toughest, though, as he is set for summer clashes with reigning trotter of the year, One Over Kenny, starting with the Cambridge Mile on Monday.
Butt says while he respects One Over Kenny he is adamant Mountbatten can beat her.
"She has real x-factor but I think a lot of people don't realise how good Mountbatten is," he said. "He has rare speed for a trotter and I think he is as good as Take A Moment was at the same stage."
That is a huge call from Butt, who trained Take A Moment to become our second richest ever trotter and along with stablemate Lyell Creek the only millionaire trotter.
"One Over Kenny might have a few more strings to her bow now because she could be tougher, but when a trotter has speed like Mountbatten they put themselves in a position to win.
"I think they are in for a good summer of racing but I can see him, maybe next season, catching up to One Over Kenny.
"I wouldn't be surprised if he was able to dominate next season and do what Take A Moment did.
"I will tell you one thing, he is already a better horse now than when he won the Dominion Handicap."
Australian bookmakers agree with Butt's high opinion of Mountbatten, keeping he and One Over Kenny very close in the first market for the Interdominions, which culminate at Moonee Valley on March 1.
One Over Kenny has been opened the $4 favourite by Betstar but Houdini Star and Mountbatten are close up on the $5 second line of betting.
All three clash in Monday's Cambridge race.
Butt believes punters may not have to wait that long for a northern win in his colours, with Report For Duty rated an each way chance in tomorrow night's $45,000 Manukau Cup.
"He is a good horse who loves the pace being on and if he gets that I think he is a good chance this week and in the Franklin Cup."
* Followers of New Zealand's leading drivers should be careful when the Hot Holiday Drivers market opens today.
The TAB will offer odds on who will be the leading driver from Boxing Day until January 2 included, and the natural temptation is to support the big names - like Herlihy, Jones and Ferguson.
But with only four of the 11 meetings held during that period in the North Island the odds are stacked greatly in favour of drivers attending smaller meetings in the South Island. That was proven last year when Craig Thornley, driving at Westport and Reefton, won the competition at $25.
The best chance, through weight of numbers, could be junior horseman Dexter Dunn.
