Butcher eyes cup after reaching 2000 mark

Shardon's Operator winning the 2012 Wanganui Cup, driven by David Butcher. PHOTO/ROYDEN WILLIAMS, HARNESS RACING PHOTOGRAPHY WANGANUI

The newest member of an elite driver's club will be looking to add another Wanganui Cup to his resume tomorrow when the Wanganui Trotting Club hosts its annual race day on the grass at Wanganui Racecourse.

Final fields were declared yesterday morning and club president Kim McConachy said the nominations had been excellent, with horses coming from Auckland through to the top of the South Island.

The feature will be Race 8 with the $8000 Schnapps Bar, National Park Wanganui Cup, with 13 horses listed for the 4-year-olds plus 2600m race.

Key to watch will be the newly minted legend David Butcher, as the Waikato driver will be at the reins of Mister Harris (U1). Back in November at Manawatu, Butcher reached the 2000th career win milestone, driving Celtic Warrior for his third victory of four that evening. Butcher joins a very elite group consisting of Tony Herlihy (3213 wins), Maurice McKendry (2989) and Ricky May (2416) to achieve this feat.

Trained at Waitara by David Cambie, Mister Harris should have no problem stepping up a grade in the cup.

He was a dominant winner at Manawatu on Thursday and also has grass track form, being a winner at Hawera back in April.

Meanwhile, the two Marlborough pacers in Stormy Breeze - who finished with a flat sulky tyre on Thursday - and Sobek look the biggest dangers.

Last year, Butcher took Shardon's Operator to victory in the Wanganui Cup, which is part of the North Island Region Country Cup Championship series. Shardon's Operator, with Butcher, went on to compete in the series final, finishing a creditable second.

Race 8 will be at 4.06pm, as part of a 10-race event. Wanganui Trotting Club will have a prize for the leading trainer and driver on the day, while last year's stake levels have been maintained. The first race will start at 12.20pm and the last will go at 5.20pm.