The little tipple that saw Merv send Steam Punk north to Lincoln Farms
When Lincoln Farms’ boss John Street invited leading Melbourne owner Merv Butterworth in for a drink at Alexandra Park one night he made a light-hearted challenge which he probably thought would never be taken up.
But last Friday night, when Steam Punk led all the way to score an easy win at Auckland headquarters, it marked what could be just the start of a successful partnership.
For Steam Punk is the direct result of that hospitality earlier in the year.
As Butterworth tells it, Street had had a couple of sav blancs and given him a couple of whiskies when he asked when he was going to send them a horse to train.
“You better give me another whiskey and I’ll think about it,’’ Butterworth replied.
It probably came as somewhat of a shock when a few months later Butterworth rose to the challenge, buying an unraced McArdle three-year-old in Southland and sending him north to Ray Green at Lincoln Farms in Pukekohe.
Steam Punk arrived on the same truck as returning southern campaigner Northview Hustler and it didn’t take long for Green to take a liking to him.
So much so that when the horse debuted at Auckland on November 30, there was some confidence in the camp and Butterworth was there to see his new recruit.
Sadly, the occasion was a little too much for the nervy Steam Punk who was really gassed out of the gate by driver Zachary Butcher and, when trapped three wide on the first bend, totally lost the plot and galloped.
A week later, with his hopples let out, Steam Punk pounced on a much easier lead and, with Butcher holding him together, strolled round the track to record a decisive win.
Butterworth was not there this time, frustrated at having to listen to the race on Radio Trackside after Sky Channel in Melbourne failed to televise the race.
“They show races for dogs and cats and caterpillars over here, and even showed some races from Forbury Park, but they gave Auckland the flick.’’
Butterworth was on the phone to Green within minutes, however, as he shared the winners’ circle with a bevy of Island beauties, representing sponsors the Pacific Nations Academy.
“What a relief, he’s won well,’’ Green reported, content that Butterworth’s belief in his ability had been franked.
For while Street’s dare was the catalyst for Butterworth sending the horse north, the Australian owner says he’s had his eye on Green’s good record for some months. And, of course, the recent success of Rupert Of Lincoln since he bought the horse from Lincoln Farms has helped.
Butterworth, who has since sent a second horse to Green, Zealand Star, is a real student of form, making a study of trainers’ records and drivers’ tactics, all information he feeds into his mental computer before deciding where his horses will be trained.
Butterworth, who runs a successful “automotive electronics business”, is cagey about just how many horses he owns but has them spread all round New Zealand and Australia, with key trainers in every state, a prime factor in avoiding “getting into deep water’’.
Just how much it’s costing him he says he finds out at the end of each month when he counts up the winners - which average about three to five a week.
And of course he has spies everywhere recommending horses to him, like Steam Punk.
Butterworth fancies he’s more a student of “potential’’, rather than “form’’, with a nose for spotting improvers.
“I watch all the trials and workouts and study all the results.’’
Butterworth, who worked in stables as a youngster, says he and his wife Meg have had a lot of fun racing horses for the last 17 years, citing Arden Rooney’s New Zealand Trotting Cup and Hunter Cup wins as highlights.
“But it’s fun winning races anywhere - we’ve won a Kalgoorlie Cup (in Western Australia) - and we’ve been to dozens of tracks all over Australasia.’’
Winton, Gore, Invercargill, Wyndham, Kaikoura you name it, he’s been there, an itinerary that once saw his air points hit two million - and discover he could cash some of them in for whiskey!
More news in Harness
Brace for Ray and Lincoln Farms at Cambridge but Colonel’s placing just as thrilling
Ray: Preferential draw for top fillies makes it tough for everyone else in Golden Gait series
Patient owners hoping high-priced Colonel can salute at Cambridge on Thursday night
Friday’s Lincoln Farms Franklin Cup all about the standing start manners of Aussie raider
Our runners this week
Tuesday at Cambridge
Colonel Lincoln, Onyx Shard, Commander Lincoln, Debbie Lincoln, Kevin Kline, Lincoln La Moose, The Big Lebowski.
Our runners this week: How our trainers rate them
Ray’s comments
Thursday night at Cambridge
Race 2: Commander Lincoln
5.51pm
“Back to Cambridge and the easier amateur ranks he can get some of it. He’s an honest little horse who pays his way.”
Race 4: Onyx Shard
6.49pm
“She’s a nice filly who is training really well and it wouldn’t surprise me to see her in the money in spite of the outside draw. She’d be one of the best in that field and is definitely an each-way chance.”
Race 6: Colonel Lincoln
7.39pm
“He hasn’t raced for nearly 21 months but his training has been good and he should go well first-up. He’s a beautiful, big horse who probably lacks a yard of speed to be a real super horse but he’s got everything else. I expect him to go well against this lot.”
Race 7: Lincoln La Moose
8.04pm
“He’s training well and has surprised us before, like when he won his first start at Cambridge like a monster after breaking on the first turn. It’s always the way when they win their first start - it makes things hard for them after that - but he’s travelling well now and is capable of being in it.”
Ray’s comments
Friday night at Auckland
Race 4: Lincoln Lou
7.09pm
“He’ll be relying on a heap of good luck from the second row. His last run was a non-event. The poor little bugger couldn’t have done a better job of finding trouble. He’s trained on all right.”
Race 4: Sugar Ray Lincoln
7.09pm
“He’s training really well and he showed last time what a big motor he had, losing all that ground early and still getting up to win. He’s not famous for his gate speed but as long as he gets away safely then Maurice can put him in the race at the right time. There are a lot of horses in there that aren’t that safe who could stand on their ear. Navigating through them is always a worry. He’ll need some luck but he could give them a fright.”
Race 6: Frisco Bay
8.05pm
“He obviously can’t beat Duchess Megxit or Jeremiah but if he gets a good trip he’s a chance of getting some money. Things didn’t suit him last time - being out three wide then going to the front. He’s so hot, he over-races. He goes best if he’s allowed to slop out and find the back of something, when he generally relaxes. Even if he got back a bit, that would be all right, so long as he gets sucked along.”