Zachary shows why he’s ATC’s driver of the year, bagging three wins, each special

Zachary Butcher couldn’t have scripted it any better.

On a night when the Auckland Trotting Club celebrated its heroes, Butcher won three races, each with special significance.

• Top of the pops for Butcher was his win behind Lincoln Farms’ Frisco Bay in the race named after him, the Zachary Butcher, ATC’s 2024 Leading Driver Pace
• Especially satisfying was his win on Greased Lightnin for owner Dean Shannon and trainers Barry Purdon and Scott Phelan, whose horses provided him with some of his biggest thrills of the year, and
• In a perfect end to the night, Butcher landed a rare win for Cambridge trainer Susan Branch with Romeo Foxtrot, a triumph not for the north’s two powerhouses, but one for the little guys, whose hearty cheers reminded him of what harness racing is all about.

Butcher, who won the drivers’ award named in honour of the late champion horseman Peter Wolfenden, racked up an impressive 29 wins, 23 seconds and 23 thirds at the Park last season.

The haul helped him finish fifth on the national premiership with 82 wins, a remarkable total from just 424 drives, giving him by far the best UDR (strike rate) of any driver in the country.

And with stake earnings of $2,886,288 he finished second only to premiership winner Blair Orange who had three times as many drives (1289).

“I was rapt to win my own race tonight,” said Butcher obviously pumped after his copybook drive on Frisco Bay, whom he was able to steer into the trail when stablemate Lincoln Lou paced roughly soon after the start.

From there, Butcher knew he was a royal winning hope, judging by Frisco Bay’s run for fourth the previous week.

“I thought his run last week was super. He sustained quite a long run and clocked 26.3 for his last quarter.

“Even if he’d been in the one-one (not the trail) tonight he’d have been good enough to beat them. He’s got a quick turn of foot.”

Butcher said Frisco Bay relaxed beautifully tonight, compared with last week when he became very keen after a false start, even when stablemate Debbie Lincoln ranged alongside.

“And he didn’t have to do any work which is crucial for him. You can’t work him, he gets a bit keen.”

Once clear in the run home, Frisco Bay slipped up the passing lane to score easily in a mile rate of 1:56.6 for the 1700 metres, Lincoln Lou staging a good recovery to close the gap to a length at the line.

ATC steward Gary Williams presents John Street with the winning trophy.And Street passes it on to Linda Irwin-Parson, one of the owners of runner-up Lincoln LouOnly a head margin between the pacemaking Minjee and Debbie Lincoln spoiled a Lincoln Farms’ trifecta.

Co-trainer Ray Green, who races Frisco Bay with Lincoln Farms’ owner John and Lynne Street, said he was impressed by the improving tractability of the horse.

“If he’s left in the open too soon he can still over-race and beat himself up but I knew he’d win tonight with the run he got. He’s never been beaten from a two-hole trip.

“He’d be deadly in America. They jump and run up there which would suit him perfectly.”

Street, presented with the winning trophy by ATC steward Gary Williams, graciously handed it on to one of Lincoln Lou’s owners Linda Irwin-Parson as compensation for having been beaten into second by a Lincoln Farms stablemate two weeks in a row.