Zac’s back

Top Northern reinsman Zachary Butcher is expecting to be back driving at the trials tomorrow and at Alexandra Park on Friday.

“I’m getting it all sorted. I had the Careway Programme ring me today and they’re happy with progress. I see the doctor tomorrow to get his clearance and (will) drive at the trials tomorrow after the doctor’s clearance. I’ll be at the races on Friday,” Butcher said.

Butcher injured himself playing social basketball and needed an operation to replace the ACL in his left knee.

“It was a little bit scratchy at the start. It takes a long time to heal and if you’re playing basketball or a real physical sport, you’re looking at nine months. But what we do, hopping in the cart and working horses, I think it’s holding up great. I did a lot of walking in Europe and I went back to work today and it’s back to normal.”

The required recovery time gave Zac and his wife Laura the opportunity to travel to England, Scotland, Ireland, Croatia, Italy, France and the USA.

“I really loved Italy. The food was just amazing, the wine was good and the people were great. There wasn’t a bad day in Italy.”

With the second half of the racing season beginning to notch up a few gears, Butcher can’t wait to get back driving for his key suppliers, Barry Purdon and Scott Phelan.

“I tried to talk to Scottie, but I don’t think he wanted to message me back because I was in the nice warm sun and he was in the freezing cold. He was giving me the cold shoulder (laughter). Merlin and Meant To Be are trialling tomorrow, so exciting times.”

Zac says the break has done him the world of good.

“It’s not that I was over racing, but you can get stale to a point where you’re going round in circles every week and it never changes. Just to get away from the norm, outside of your comfort zone, living a different life. You enjoy it but it gets to a point where you say, get me back on home soil and back into it.”

While he’s been away, Zachary’s father David and his brother Ben have been looking after his two racehorses Time For Change and Princess Gracy.

“The aim for them is to get them both down south. They’re both trialling tomorrow. Hopefully they’ll be racing soon. A big thanks to them. I was worried I wasn’t going to get them back.”

At the end of their six week holiday Zac and Laura caught up with Dexter Dunn in the States.

“He’s good. His wife Jill and daughter Meela moved over about three months ago. They’re just settling in and getting used to the States way of living. You could see Dexter was pretty happy with the family being over there and he’s kicking butt. One day he drove four winners, had four seconds and a third, so he’s still showing them all how it’s done which is great. Good to see.”

Butcher says it’s an extremely busy time of year for Dunn in North America.

“In the last four to six weeks he’s had two days off racing. It’s pretty brutal and it’s hard on them. I was there holidaying, relaxing and cruising. They’re finishing at eight or nine o’clock, having dinner, going to bed and then going to the track the next day and do it all again. They’ve got qualifiers, then sixteen races to go on top of that. It’s hard work and I’ve got a lot of respect for the guys that do it. He was smiling the whole time, so he’s obviously still enjoying it.”

Butcher has no plans to drive in North America himself.

“They said I should go and have a crack, but nah, I’m a two meeting a week man maximum.”

So tomorrow a re-energised Zac Butcher will be back in the cart, albeit carrying a few extra holiday pounds.

“I’ve just got back from the sauna (laughter). I went down to work this morning and you can feel it – I knew I’d put on a couple of kegs. From my resting weight I’ve put on seven kgs. I was worried I was going to break the 90kg mark but I snuck in at 89.1. Spring racing is coming up and all the nice ones are popping out, so it’s an exciting time. I’ve just got to get my driving weight down first. I’m about to go and put my Barry Purdon suit on to see whether I can fit into it before Friday.”

by Bruce Stewart, for Harnesslink