Butt notches first training win

By Jonny Turner

Reinsman Jonny Cox gave his fiancé an early wedding present when he drove Lennox Bromac to victory to notch Kimberly Butt’s first training win at Forbury Park on Sunday.

The 4yr-old capitalised on the perfect run Cox gave him in the trail to break his maiden by a neck and help Butt add to her family’s long line of training successes.  

“It was a big thrill, it was a little while coming, but we got there,” Butt said.

Butt’s victory not only provided her household with something to celebrate.

The trainer was able to honour her family when her maroon and white colours crossed the line first.  

Butt designed her silks with her lineage - through her father Anthony Butt and mother Karen Prendergast  - in mind.

“The maroon obviously comes from Dad’s side of the family, its pretty prominent,” Butt said.

“The sash is from Mum’s side, through my grandfather, Dick Prendergast.”

Though Butt is an accomplished reinswoman herself, she has not had the chance to drive Lennox Bromac at the races.

“From the start I have never got close to driving him.”

“Jonny liked him and he knows the horse, he has got a few wee tricks so it is good to have him stick with him.”

Lennox Bromac gave his backers cause for concern at the top of the straight on Sunday with one of those tricks.   

The Falcon Seelster gelding paced roughly when travelling like the winner as Cox angled him in to the passing lane.

Once Lennox Bromac recovered and got himself balanced he went on to produce a good late burst to win.

Lennox Bromac is one of three horses Butt has in work.

She has no plans to expand her team, which she trains while also working for Cox.

“I will focus on the driving for a while yet and keep training a couple on the side at work.”

The ‘Lennox’ in Lennox Bromac comes from the horse’s part-owner Peter Wilson, whose official first name is Lennox.

Wilson – who goes by his middle name, Peter, was a good friend of the late Bob McArdle.

The New Zealander, who lives in England, was to have raced the horse with the Bromac Lodge founder.

After McArdle’s death, Lennox Bromac was sold to Butt at the Bromac Lodge dispersal sale.

Wilson then re-joined the trainer in the horse’s ownership.

“I bought the horse at the dispersal sale after Bob passed away,” Butt said. 

“I just bought him outright, then Bob’s daughter Lisa rung and asked if Peter could stay in the horse.”

“I have only met him once because he lives in England, but it has been great to have Peter in the horse.”

< BACK TO ALL

Related Category News

28 March 2024

Chair's Update - March

The latest update from the Chair of the Board - Phil Holden

More
28 March 2024

Dalgety first harness racing driver to get Young Scholarship Award

Carter Dalgety's year just keeps getting better and better - and the 20-year-old is loving it.

More