Butcher ready to bounce back with some tidy drives tonight

After three months away one of New Zealand’s best harness racing drivers and unsuccessful basketball players returns at Alexandra Park tonight.

And Zachary Butcher says while he wondered what it would be like getting back in the sulky after his injury-enforced layoff it only took him minutes to feel right back at home.

“It is like riding a bike,” says Butcher.

Riding a bike might be the sort of exercise Butcher should stick to heading forward as he was playing social basketball earlier this year when he landed awkwardly and tore his ACL.

Initially able to drive after that injury the doctors soon confirmed that wasn’t the best idea so he has been away from race driving for three months, allowing he and wife Laura (formerly Dalgety) to enjoy a belated overseas honeymoon after getting married last November.

“We had a great time but I actually went straight back to work when we got home and after having a few weeks not thinking about racing much I wondered how quickly I’d click back into it,” says Butcher.

“But as soon as I got in the sulky it was good to be back and I am looking forward to getting out there on Friday night when I have some good drives.”

Butcher will in coming weeks be back behind a couple of his favourites in Merlin and Meant To Be as they get ready for the biggest races at NZ Cup week but he partners another potential New Zealand Cup contender in Jeremiah (R10, No.6) in tonight’s main pace.

Jeremiah (Lazarus) will be the multi anchor for plenty of punters tonight even from a wide draw in the mobile mile.

“It is not easy to just push the button and cross them from out there over a mile but I think he can win sitting off the speed or even parked so he is a great chance,” says Butcher.

He is also looking forward to his first public drive on Dino (R7, No.4) tonight when he clashes with two other exciting juveniles in Coal Fire and Lucky Luka.

“My fella is obviously a really nice horse but it is a good field and should be a really good race.”

Coal Fire was the best of the early season northern juveniles behind southern star Tour Party, who resumes in a similar race at Addington tonight, while Lucky Luka has made quite the impression winning two of his three starts with stunning sprints.

“I have got a good book and I thought War Chief could be a little bit of value in the last even though he will need luck from 1 on the second line over a mile.”

Tonight’s Woodlands Pacing Metro Final (Race 1) looks more even than the $2.20 price for Wat Next would suggest while Son Of The Cleaner (R4, No.9) is the one to beat in the Metro Trotters Final even though he goes back 10m in the handicaps for his win last Friday in a race where Jasinova looks the value place play.

Illicit Love is the clear horse to beat in tonight’s main trot while Daisy Bay (R9, No.3) gets a far better draw in her Dunstan Sires’ Stakes heat than she did when a flashing late third against similar opposition at Cambridge last start.

For complete race entries, click here.

by Michael Guerin, for Harness Racing New Zealand