Elite honour for training pair

5 February 2021

THE announcement of the New South Wales Horse of the Year Awards was met with a great deal of joy from champion horseman, Anthony Butt and his partner Sonya Smith as two of their stable stars were recognised.

Now based at Melton in Victoria and currently training around 30 horses, the former New Zealander has won a multitude of feature races in both his home country and here in Australia but having horses he trains recognised as being the best of their year is something he describes as being pretty special.

“We feel it is a huge honour for not only Sonya and I, but also for the owners and the horses themselves,” an excited Butt said.

New South Wales and Victorian Derby winner Line Up was named Three-Year-Old Colt or Gelding Pacer Of The Year after gaining 80 per cent of the vote while classy New South Wales Trotters Derby winner Elite Stride polled even higher with 90 per cent of the vote to claim the Three-Year-Old Trotter of the Year title.

“Line Up has had a good break but unfortunately after a few minor setbacks with leg injures he will miss some of the good races coming up,” said Butt.

“I will now have to set a new path for him, but I’m hoping that he will be back at the track by the middle of the year.

“He is only a four-year-old and barring any further bad luck, I feel he can go on to brighter things in the future.”

Butt continued his praise of his stable stars by highlighting the efforts of his smart trotter Elite Stride.

“Elite had a super season, picking up a number of feature races, he was so dominant,” he said.

“In all, he won nine races and almost $119,000, which is quite healthy for a trotter.

“Emilio and Mary Rosati own both these horses and they are a great asset to the sport.

“It is nice to see them rewarded for what they contribute to the industry.”

Butt said that Elite Stride was given a long spell and had come back looking a picture.

“He is probably two months away from a return to racing and I am very excited to see how he will measure up against the top open-class trotters currently racing in Australia,” he said.

- MICHAEL DUMESNY