Metro finals night at Alexandra Park

[Wandering Eyes]

By Michael Guerin

Ben Butcher thinks Pantani might be getting to the top of his learning curve just in time for tonight’s Metro Trot Final at Alexandra Park.

The Cambridge trotter will start odds on in the $35,000 final after winning the stronger of the two heats run a fortnight ago by 10-and-a-half lengths, suggesting he is close to a good thing tonight. 

On that last start, and best form of 2024, Pantani probably should win again but there have been plenty of lows in between, with caretaker trainer and driver Butcher saying Pantani was a victim of his own early success.

“The problem he had was winning three races in a row last year and looking really good doing it,” says Butcher, whose father David trains Pantani but is overseas.

“So he ended up in a really good grade very quickly against horses who could trot the same sectionals he can but they had more experience.

“He then had to learn in a hard grade what most trotters learn in easier races and it think it took him a while.

“But he is maturing and getting there now, as we saw last start.”

Pantani is still anything but the finished product but he looked much more comfortable against the marker pegs when leading last start than chasing or having to come wider on the track, which is often a trap for inexperienced trotters. 

He does cop barrier 8 tonight but Butcher suggests his last start thrashing of many of those he meets should have earned him enough respect to be taken seriously if he goes forward inside the first lap.

So if you are taking the odds-on about him tonight expect to see him driven positively and with the $35,000 a great stake for this calibre of horse, some rival drivers may be keen to take a trail on the most logical winner.

“If it wins this week it is also penalty-free after winning his heat so we’d love to get this race,” says Butcher.

One rival who somewhat mirrors Pantani’s form is Loteria, who clearly had more overall ability than her record suggests but is still learning how to best use her energy.

She looked over the odds when opening at $13 and is worth following regardless of what she does tonight.

Butcher also drives You Little Beauty (R3, No.5) tonight for his father against stablemate Hooray Henry, who will have the services of Ben’s brother Zachary.

“There isn’t much between them. The mare might be tougher but Henry is probably faster so they both have a good show as it is only a small field.”

Butcher also suggests another of his drives Seaside Boss (R6, No.3) can improve even after winning last start so he could be a good each chance.

Tonight’s other Metro Final for the pacers has Mediator (R4, No.2) as the warm favourite even though he is stepping up in grade.

He does look to have more upside than many of his rivals though so the early tactics on a fast front line could be a deciding factor. 

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