David Butcher says veteran Aussie trotter Kyvalley Blur reminds him of Elsu.
Not in his gait, or even his ability, but his cunning.
Butcher had his first, and possibly last, drive in Kyvalley Blur when the US-bred, Australian-trained trotter won his New Zealand debut at Alexandra Park on Friday night.
The race was a stopover hit and run mission in Auckland for Kyvalley Blur on his way south for the New Zealand Free-For-All and Dominion, where he will join his stablemate Messini for trainer Brent Lilley.
Butcher drove the perfect race on Kyvalley Blur and the pair won pulling away but it wasn’t all smooth sailing for those who took the odds-on as the nine-year-old showed none of his expected gate speed and appeared to be flat out for much of the race.
“He knew what he was doing,” laughed Butcher.
“Those older horses who have been there, done that no when they have to put in to get the job done.
“I learnt that driving Elsu years ago. When those good horses have been doing it for a while they learn when to put it and when they can cruise.
“So while he may have looked like he lacked speed, he actually jogged it.” It was a good training performance from Lilley as few open class newcomers to Alexandra Park trot so cleanly and it has meant the former Chris Lang trotter has already half paid for his trip.
He will head to Addington looking a great chance in the Free-For-All, where he won’t have to meet Monbet, and at least a place hope in the Dominion.
“A horse like him who keeps trucking, if he gets to the markers in the Dominion he will be a great place chance,” said Butcher.
Lilley’s stable driver Anthony Butt will be reunited with Kyvalley Blur at Addington.
While he was the star of the Friday night meeting which played second fiddle to the Addington premier, there was plenty to like about some other winners on the night.
Butcher partnered Rory McIlroy to win like a smart three-year-old early in the programme while Brent Mangos produced a handy three-year-old filly in Ask Again, who cruised home in 56.5 seconds in only her second start.
And the Michelle Wallis-Bernie Hackett team recorded a trotting double with ex-South Islanders Blood And Whiskey and Thebestlove, the latter once again showing his love of mobile racing to down a luckless C K Spur.
The latter galloped early, losing 20m, looped the field to lead and was run down late in 2:47.4 for the 2200m mobile, a huge run from a October three-year-old so he looks classic material.
Michael Guerin
