Ants severs ties with Rosati - his driving passion rekindled with Brisbane gongs

Driving Lincoln Farms’ star pacers Copy That and American Dealer at the Queensland carnival helped crack driver Anthony Butt make the decision today to sever ties with big Sydney owner Emilio Rosati.

Butt and his partner Sonya Smith have been private trainers for the leviathan owner for the last 18 months, during which time Rosati has enjoyed his best time in harness racing.

But the spectacular success Butt has had in the cart in last few weeks has helped the expat Kiwi make up his mind to go back to being a free agent.

Butt has been the number one driver of choice in Brisbane, handling big race performers Copy That, Amazing Dream, Krug and American Dealer, reminding people with outstanding tactical performances why he is classed as one of the best in the business.

Anthony Butt … “driving has always been my main passion.” PHOTO: Michael McInally.“Driving has always been my main passion and I’ve missed out on a lot of good horses in the last 18 months because Emilio wanted us to be exclusive.

“We’ve also been offered a lot of horses to train which we haven’t been able to take.”

Smith was even forced to say goodbye to “her baby”, Lincoln Farms’ good pacer Make Way, when they became private trainers for Rosati.

Butt says he is looking forward to being able to travel more - “I’ve always followed the big carnivals in Australia” - but of course Emilio wasn’t keen on my being away from the team.

“One good thing is I’ll be available to drive Copy That more. And next season he’s good enough to win any race. At this level you’ll never win every race but he could be favourite in any race like the Hunter Cup, Miracle Mile, New Zealand Cup and be a big chance in them all.

“He’s furnished into the complete article. He can come off the gate and relax, make a move to get a spot and relax again.

“Ray Green has done a great job with him. Often hard racing improves them even more. Some go missing but he’s really stepping up.

“But ultimately this is a lifestyle decision for Sonya and I. We just want to go back to doing our own thing.

Owner Emilio Rosati lays one on Anthony Butt after former Lincoln Farms’ top three-year-old Line Up won the 2020 New South Wales Derby. PHOTO: Ashlea Brennan.“We’re very proud we’ve had so much success with Emilio’s horses. He’s had the success he craved for the last 30 or 40 years - it’s been unparalleled for him.

“The success has put us on the map too. It’s proven to people that we can train at the top level and set horses for big races and win.

“Wolf Stride was a rogue when we got him - he’d run off the track in races a couple of times - and we took him from a maiden to a Group I superstar.

“Boots Electric was the same. He was unraced in New Zealand and here we won the Group I Bonanza and South Australia Pacing Cup with him.”

In all, Butt and Smith prepared five Group I winners for Rosati for stakes topping A$1.8 million.

Butt says, however, the Queensland carnival reinvigorated his wish to drive more topliners.

“It’s a real feather in my cap to be asked to drive these horses. It’s a lot of pressure and it comes with expectations. But you do your best and when you win it’s a massive thrill.”