Butt looks for answers at Ashburton’s Magic Monday
Matt Markham - Raceform • October 24th, 2025 5:20 PM • 4 min read
Bob Butt has a few questions in the back of his mind that he’s keen to find answers to during Ashburton’s Magic Monday race meeting this long weekend.
For all intents and purposes, the Woodend Beach horseman should be shaping up for a massive Cup Week, with a number of big chances across many of the features during the Addington carnival. But there’s just a few ‘ifs and buts’ that need answering before he can get too excited.
Most importantly, it’s whether or not the brilliant Duchess Of Kent’s form stacks up against the best of a very good group of three-year-old fillies, and is rising superstar trotter Bet N Win heading in the right direction after a slight setback last week?
The former might be easier to answer than the latter, because Butt knows Duchess Of Kent is well above average, but until you’ve tried yourself against the best it’s hard to know exactly where you stand.
“I think she could be very good, perhaps one out of the box,” he told RaceForm. “I don’t want to get too far ahead of myself, because it is an incredibly deep crop of fillies, but everything about her is that little bit better than normal.”
Officially trained by Lauren Pearson in Winton, the big and strong daughter of Art Major has been back up at Woodend Beach under Butt’s care for two weeks after last racing at Addington in August where she won a heat of the Nevele R Fillies series.
“She came back up in great order, Lauren has done a wonderful job as you’d expect. It’s just a shame they couldn’t find a race for her down there, because we’d be going into this week a lot further forward than we are if they had.”
A trial at Rangiora last week was used as a serious hitout and Butt made sure the filly worked for her impressive victory, launching from last at the 800 metres to sit outside the leaders before monstering them up the straight.
“It was sharp, really good. I wanted her to run a good last lap, just to get a good run into her and she did it beautifully and under her own steam.”
With a spot in the Group One final secured, Monday’s final heat isn’t as much of a pressure-cooker situation as it is for a few others, so Butt is happy to let things settle and see what unfolds. That comes with a warning for punters.
“We aren’t there for a big, gut-busting run. The main aim is the final and we’re using this as a good hitout to get her really ready for it. That doesn’t mean she can’t win, I think she’s good enough to, but we’ll need a bit to go our way.”
In the case of Bet N Win in the Tactical Landing Ashburton Trotters Sprint, Butt is heading into the unknown – as are the gelding’s trainers, David and Stacey White, after he was scratched from last week’s Canterbury Park Trotters Cup.
“I haven’t had a good chat to Whitey yet, but it seems like things are back on track. It wasn’t anything serious, but enough for him to miss a race.
“The mile will really suit him and he’s come up with a great draw (four) to use the gate speed we know that he has. I’d like to think we can find the front and control things from there, but he’ll obviously get better leading into Cup Week with another run under his belt too.”
Bet N Win opened second favourite to make it back-to-back wins in the race, with Muscle Mountain red-hot after his victory last week and the fact that he drew inside the Rowe Cup winner.
He’s had just the one run back since finishing second in the Inter Dominion Trotters’ final behind Arcee Phoenix back in July and at one stage was favourite for the Renwick Farms Dominion, although his price has inflated to $5.50 off the back of some strong performances from the likes of Oscar Bonavena and the high-flying Australian stablemates Keyang Zahara and Keyang Ballerini.
Butt will also have a role to play in Monday’s main feature, the NZB Airfreight Ashburton Flying Stakes, with Renegade. Eighth in the Canterbury Classic last week, the Brendon Hill-trained pacer was a lot better than the result would appear.
“I was really happy with him, it was a very good run. He’s just got to get these standing starts a bit better, and more consistently. When he does catch it, he’s very quick. Hopefully he can do that on Monday and get himself a nice trip, because he’s going good enough to be a chance.”
As well as his driving commitments, Butt will also play a training role with speedy mare Dynasty taking her place in the Gr.2 Mid Canterbury Trotting Owners Ladies’ Sprint.
A big winner three starts back, there hasn’t been a lot of luck in the next two appearances.
“She’s flying, I’m really happy with her. Unfortunately, you’ve got to drive her for that one run at them, but when she gets the right trip she’s quite dangerous with her speed.
“Hopefully she can get a bit of luck in the running this week, I think Ashburton will really suit her.”
A winner of five from 17, Dynasty has drawn wide over the 1700-metre mobile in a sharp field of mares that looks to be spearheaded by Southland mare Ruby Roe who has drawn barrier one.
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