Kikorangi Blue's chances buoyed by return to favourite track

By Jonny Turner

Bob Butt is hopeful the real Kikorangi Blue can front up at Addington on Friday afternoon.

The mare returns to her favourite track after what looked just a plain last start performance in the Southern Belle Speed Series at Winton.

After sitting in the trial, the five-year-old edged up the passing lane to run fifth.

Kikorangi Blue was clearly better in her prior two outings, running to second placings behind the talented No Matter Wat.

Butt is hopeful the mare can bounce back to that kind of form in the First Autumn Mares Sprint (5.48pm).

“She has been working really well, I have been just as happy with her as I was before she went down south.”

“She was a wee bit disappointing down there considering the run she had.”

“But she is a big, light-framed mare and it was her first trip away.”

“She has got a great draw(3) this week and she loves Addington, so hopefully she should go pretty good.”

Butt also starts Angel Of Montana in Friday night’s feature.

The mare doesn’t bring the kind of form her stablemate does, but she does have the ability to feature.

“She has got the ability, but she has been a bit up and down lately.”

“If they are both on their A-game there wouldn’t be that much between them.”

“She beat a good field first up but she has been a bit up and down since then.”

Kikorangi Blue opened the $3.30 favourite for race 8, with Angel Of Montana rated at $9 odds.

Butt also lines up Heston Hall in the fast class trot at Addington on Friday afternoon.

The trotter returns after a freshen up having had a quiet trial.

“He seems good, he is just an honest old fella.”

“He steps away and does things right, if he gets a good trip he can be in the first four.”

Heston Hall was rated a $13 shot on market opening for race 6.

Hot To Trot opened the $3.20 favourite for the event.

The Mark Jones trained trotter will be having his first start as a four-year-old after competing in top-level three-year-old races last season.