Ken Casellas | Photo: Hamilton Content Creators
Injury-plagued veteran pacer James Butt will reappear after a three-month absence when he starts from the No. 1 barrier in the 2536m RAC Members Save 5% Every Day at Retravision Pace at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
And trainer-reinsman Chris Voak is bubbling with confidence, saying: “He is my best for the night. He beat Sangue Reale (a last-start winner) on the track at Pinjarra last Saturday when he ran home over the final 800m in 54.7sec.
“I led with Sangue Reale in the trial, and my father-in-law (Frank Vanmaris) drove James Butt, who trailed Sangue Reale, who popped out at the 600m and put me away. If Sangue Reale drew one in James Butt’s race on Friday night, he wouldn’t get beaten. James Butt is as good as him.
“James Butt is ready to win first-up over 2536m. I have given him a lot of hard work.”
Eight-year-old James Butt has won at nine of his 43 starts. His most recent success was at Gloucester Park in February 2020 when he led early from the No. 1 barrier and then trailed the pacemaker before finishing strongly to beat Iceenothink and Im Soxy, rating 1.55.1 over 2130m.
Whether James Butt can beat the high-priced New Zealand-bred seven-year-old Gran Chico is problematical. Gran Chico, to be driven by Shannon Suvaljko for trainer Mike Reed, has raced only 26 times for nine wins, six seconds and one third. He reappeared after a 22-month absence when he was a $71 outsider and raced at the rear before finishing ninth behind Glenledi Chief over 2130m last Friday night. He drops significantly in class this week.
Capel trainer Aiden De Campo has made a sentimental decision to drive nine-year-old veteran Handsandwheels in preference to six-year-old stablemate Pradason in the Retravision Click And Collect Pace.
Handsandwheels, whose latest success was 35 months ago, will start from the No. 2 barrier, with Pradason, to be handled by Dylan Egerton-Green drawn at barrier one. Pradason is in top form, and he relished his pacemaking role when De Campo drove him to a convincing victory over Valentines Brook and Lucky Galleon at a 1.56.7 rate over 2130m last Friday night.
Handsandwheels, whose 93 starts have resulted in 28 wins, 29 placings and stakes of $677,370, started from barrier five in a 2130m event last week when he challenged unsuccessfully for the early lead and then raced in sixth position, three back on the pegs, before finishing a close-up fifth behind Glenledi Chief.
“I’ll drive Handsandwheels for sentimental reasons,” said De Campo. “He has his foot on the till and went really well last week, and he worked up good this morning (Tuesday). I haven’t had a good look at the race and we’ll sort out the tactics during the week. Pradason was really good out in front last week and his work this morning was good.
“A win with Handsandwheels would mean a fair bit to me. He has done a lot for us. He damaged a hind suspensory twice. He has done well to come back. The injuries have taken their toll, and he’s definitely not the horse he was. But he is still enjoying racing and wants to be there. However, his legs don’t move as fast as they used to.”