Racing: Rocket man risks getting burned

David Butcher. Picture / Fotopress

If Elsu doesn't win tonight's Interdominion pacing final at Alexandra Park it will be David Butcher's fault.

"Oh, hell yeah," Butcher laughs.

"I fully realise who will be getting the blame if we don't pull it off."

Butcher is on a hiding to nothing in the $750,000 race. Win and he is the driver lucky enough to drive the champion called Elsu.

Lose and he is the idiot who cost him the race.

Trainer Geoff Small has now finished his job for the final. And the racing public, not to mention some non-racing sports fans, are now in love with Elsu. So he can't take the blame.

A lot of those who crowd Alexandra Park tonight will be there to see Elsu triumph. Nothing less will suffice and Butcher will be the easy scapegoat if their visit is in vain.

Because no matter what he does Butcher won't be able to drive Elsu pretty tonight. Not a $1.45 chance in the richest harness race ever held in this country.

With a horse this hot and money this big, Butcher's drive might be about as subtle as an avalanche.

From barrier seven he won't be able to cruise to the front and shoot clear at the top of the straight.

And in a field this good you can't just sit back and unleash from last. Centrifugal force and sectional times will not allow that.

Butcher will have to make decisions - decisions that will be scrutinised and replayed hundreds of times in the next few years.

He will be smack bang in the hottest spotlight in New Zealand harness racing history.

So how does he deal with it, being the man behind the rocket, a place from where one can only get burned?

"Well, first thing is I don't read the newspaper any more," Butcher said.

"I ignore what everybody else has to say and formulate my own ideas, especially now he has got to be such big news. I can't let myself get caught up in it.

"And I also watch a lot of videos of his races and his opponents' races.

"I have been doing that even more during this series, taking in what the rest of them can and can't do."

Of course Butcher gets plenty of advice. After a lifetime in racing he knows everybody, and everybody has an opinion.

"I listen to them, then ignore them.

"At the end of the day there is only me and him out there, and nobody else can help us.

"I just have to have faith in my horse and his trainer and, believe me, I do."

Butcher admits barrier seven makes tonight's race impossible to plan.

"You can't predict a race like this because when there is $750,000 up for grabs people do strange things, make moves they wouldn't usually make.

"I'll just assess it as it goes."

And how will the ultra-competitive Butcher take it if the unthinkable happens.

"I have already been through that this season with him, when we lost the New Zealand Cup to Just An Excuse.

"I couldn't accept it for a week, but when I sat down and thought about it we were beaten by a better horse on the day. So you deal with it and look forward to the next one."

And if he wins?

"Well, I might start reading the paper again. On Saturday morning."

DAVID JOHN BUTCHER

Lives: Cambridge, Waikato

DoB: July 23, 1964

Job: Harness trainer/driver

Career driving wins: Over 1200

Highlights: Two Auckland Cups (Elsu 2003, 2004), Hunter Cup (Elsu 2004).

JUST THE FACTS

What: Annual clash between New Zealand and Australia's best harness horses which comes to Auckland only every eight years.

Two sections, the pacers headed by Elsu; the trotters by Delft.

Where: Alexandra Park, Greenlane.

When: Tonight, first race 6.05. Trotting Final at 9.05; pacing final at 10.15.

The money: $750,000 pacing final; $250,000 trotting final.

Admission: $10.

Television: Entire meeting live on Trackside; pacing final live on TV One.

What can you win: Huge betting pools will assure some good dividends, particularly in trifectas. Bookies fielding on-course for all races. On-course patrons can also win a Holden Commodore SS.

Who to follow: Top driver: Tony Herlihy; trainer, Geoff Small.