Losing two of the best horses in harness racing in one week takes some getting over.
But Tim Butt thinks he has the horsepower to help him do just that at Addington tonight.
Butt was on top of the racing world week when he trained Flashing Red to
a remarkable New Zealand Cup win but, two days later, he was informed former trainer Stu Hunter would be taking the veteran back to Australia.
And things got worse on Wednesday when trainer Paul Nairn broke the news to Butt that Stig, the trotting sensation he is the major shareholder in, had broken down and won't race again this season.
"I know racing can be like this but the last week has certainly been interesting," said Butt in one of the understatements of the racing decade.
"You are lucky to have great horses and I hope Stig comes back next year but, in this business, you have to press on."
Butt and training partner Phil Anderson will be trying to do just that tonight with three big guns - Foreal, Tribute and Mountbatten.
Foreal should record her first New Zealand win in nearly 18 months when she reverts to racing mares tonight. The 2600m mobile seems perfect for her.
"She has to be hard to beat because this is a huge drop in class," said Butt.
Tribute has been one of the best pacers in the country in the last month and with no Flashing Red, Changeover, Monkey King or Baileys Dream tonight he is clear top pick.
"He had no luck last week and he will have come through that race better than most of them," said Butt.
Mountbatten faces the biggest test of his career in the Dominion but only just went down in a record New Zealand Free-For-All last Friday.
"I think he is a great chance," said Butt.
"He has real speed and while Our Sunny Whiz and One Over Kenny will be hard he could be in front of them."
