Racing: Vulcan earns trip to Australia

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Vulcan could be the next high-powered weapon to join the Butt brothers' Australian assault.

And he will have plenty of high-class company when he gets there.

The two-time Harness Jewels winner scored his biggest open-class win when he outstayed Sovereignty in the $80,000 New Zealand Trotting Free-For-All at Addington, claiming the scalps of Raydon, Musgrove and Stylish Monarch along the way.

That set him up as a realistic winning chance in Friday' s $200,000 Dominion Handicap at Addington, although the two favourites for that race - I Can Doosit and Dr Hook - didn't contest yesterday's race.

As only a 5-year-old, though, Vulcan could be a regular winner on the open class circuit for years to come, much of it based in Australia.

Tim and Anthony Butt have set up a base in Sydney and while it is still in it infancy the results have already been spectacular.

They produced Raglan to beat former stablemate Mr Feelgood in last Saturday's Newcastle Mile, qualifying him for the Miracle Mile in two weeks.

"Things are going great over there and we are very serious about it," said trainer Tim Butt.

"The numbers will grow over the summer and eventually we will have a stable of top horses there during the summer months.

"But we want to make this a permanent thing long-term."

Vulcan could use Sydney as his home sooner rather than later and attack the rich Melbourne feature trots, headlined by the Interdominion series, which culminates in early February.

"He is the sort of horse we are having a lot of fun with," said Anthony Butt.

"He is tough and handles the racing and he loves it when the speed is on."

The Butts know enough about great trotters, having trained Lyell Creek and Take A Moment, to realise Vulcan doesn't yet have the raw ability to dominate open-class racing.

"But the campaign he had at the Interdominions last season helped toughen him up and he will keep getting better."

Sovereignty pushed Vulcan close until he galloped at the 50m mark, while Musgrove was solid in third spot and Raydon impressed after covering plenty of extra ground over the last 800m.

Stylish Monarch disappointed after having an easy trip and will need to improve if he is to defend his Dominion Handicap title on Friday.

Earlier on the day Franco Emirate warmed up for Friday's New Zealand Pacing Free-For-All when winning the junior free-for-all.

The Harness Jewels and Messenger Pace winner would have been in the Cup but for his dreadful standing start manners but back to mobile racing he led throughout easily yesterday, beating Ohoka Dallas, who finished well.

"He was actually getting tired at the line but he will improve a lot for Friday and deserves a shot at the big boys," said trainer-driver Jim Curtin.