Benjamin Butcher gets first win as trainer

Sidelined with injury since a race fall in August, Benjamin Butcher still got to enjoy victory at Alexandra Park last night with his first win as a trainer.

A $23 longshot, Waltzing With Miki produced a big run to down the hotpot I Got Chills in the Classique Landscapers Happy Birthday Nigel Mason Pace. It was one of three winning drives on the night for James Stormont, who passed 1300 career wins in the sulky. His other wins were with Seaclusion and Tactical Approach for his employer Graeme Rogerson.  

Waltzing With Miki was last before going three wide and sitting parked. He then ran away from I Got Chills by nearly two lengths.

For Butcher the breakthrough win comes at a time when he is recovering from a race crash that saw him break his shoulder and also suffer concussion. It's been a longer than expected recovery.

"James drove him great," Butcher told Track Chat's Jo Ferguson post race, "and in the five weeks I've been out (brother) Zach and Dad (David) have helped out so it's a big thank you to them as well.

Benjamin Butcher's still weeks away from getting back to race day driving.

"I'm still thinking about what I'll do but I'll get back there eventually."

David Butcher also had a successful night winning the $30,000 Woodlands Stud Silk Road Northern Series Final with You Little Beauty, who he also trains. Favourite Courtney Rose was second, with Akatea third. 

The Sweet Lou four-year-old was not favoured in the market, paying $19.60, despite being of the series' heat winners on September 13.

Last night also saw heats one and two of the latest Northern Metro Series for both the pacers and the trotters. 

Five O'Clock Gerry took out the first heat, the Speeding Spur Tender by 1 November Mobile Trot, and Taylad To Use the second, the Border Fencing Services Northern Metro Series Mobile Trot.

Making his northern debut for top trainers Barry Purdon and Scott Phelan, Dawson took out the Dawson Harford Northern Metro Series Mobile Pace (Heat 1) with Seaclusion winning the Lather Up Tender by 1 November Metro Mobile Pace. It was the first of Stormont's three winning drives on the night.

Both the $35,000 trotters and pacers finals will be held at Alexandra Park next Friday.