Pantani's possible attempt on THE ASCENT

By Michael Guerin

One of New Zealand’s most exciting trotters has changed stables with good reason.

Pantani, winner of his last three starts including an impressive win in fast time at Alexandra Park last Friday, is now trained by David Butcher.

The change comes as former trainer, breeder and part-owner Ross Paynter prepares to move to Sweden, where his partner Asa and children now live.

The move has been planned for some time with Paynter having spent plenty of time in Scandanavia before.  

“I have always loved it up there and wanted to live there so I am heading back permanently on September 8,” says Panyter.

So Pantani will join Butcher, who partnered him to win last Friday, but he will remain in the same ownership.

“We have had some good offers for him but we have decided to race him ourselves,” says Paynter.

“He is a big, strong horse and only getting better so I am looking forward to seeing how far he can go.”

How far could well be at Addington in the not-too-distance future as Pantani could be aimed at both the NZ Trotting Derby and, if invited, the new 3YO $500,000 slot trot THE ASCENT on Show Day, November 15. 

“I was just around at (harness racing legend) Charlie Hunter’s place discussing that now and we’d definitely be interested,” says Paynter.

While there is a lot of racing between now and THE ASCENT there is no doubting Pantani is a horse on the rise as he effortlessly trotted his last 800m in 57.4 seconds on Friday to beat the older horses after giving them a 10m start.