Butt confirmed for Purdon's star pacers

By Adam Hamilton 

Champion driver Anthony Butt is locked-in to drive Nathan Purdon’s glamour pair Amazing Dream and American Dealer through the major races in coming weeks.

Purdon is thrilled with the pair, who will trial at Tabcorp Park Melton today.

“They are actually a little ahead of where I thought they’d be,” he said. “I’ll see how they trial and decide when they race, but they are both very forward.”

Purdon said it was likely Amazing Dream would go to the $80,000 Group 1 Kilmore Cup on Friday week and then onto the $300,000 Group 1 Victoria Cup on October 9.

“She’s proven at that level and I’m sure she’ll be very competitive,” he said. “Kilmore isn’t a definite, I’ll decide after her trial, but the Victoria Cup is the target.

“Anthony (Butt) has committed to driving Amazing Dream and American Dealer, which is great.”

Purdon said the three-week spell Amazing Dream had after a busy start to the year and huge Queensland winter campaign was just what she needed.

“She seems extra well. Even in Queensland I didn’t think she quite had that absolutely glint in her eye, but she has now,” he said.

“I said the other day, her work was at least as good as any trackwork she did in Queensland. It’ll be great to have her back.”

American Dealer has also impressed Purdon after just a few weeks in his stable outside of Melbourne.

“The first time I drove him, he just seemed so relaxed, but he carries himself like a good horse around the stable,” he said.

“You can just tell he’s a good horse and I’m looking forward to seeing how he trials.

“I’d love to find a race for him before the (Victoria) Derby heats (October 2) because he showed in Queensland he thrived on the racing.”

Purdon’s other stable star, former Kiwi mare Spellbound, is a tad behind the other pair.

“She just had a minor setback and is probably still two weeks away from a trial, but it’s nothing serious,” he said.