Kimberly Butt wins fillies feature for the Dalgetys

Bruce Stewart Journalist

In the worst part of a rainy old Southland day, Canterbury filly Show Stopper (Downbytheseaside) endured and won the $60,000 Group Two Macca Lodge/Nevele R Stud Southern Oaks by a neck from Ideal Crown, with a further neck back to Skinny Dippin.

“I was hoping the post would come up quick because we were flat out on our feet. 100% credit to the horse, she dug really deep and wanted to win it,” said winning driver Kimberly Butt.

From the ace draw, Butt took the Studholme Bloodstock owned Cran and Chrissie Dalgety trained filly straight to the front.

“She was good in front. She got on the nickel a wee bit when she touched her wheels (sulky) a couple of times. When Carter got up alongside her she definitely jumped up and got hard on the bit. I said to Carter after the race that I didn’t realise it was him coming to have a look at me. I had the goggles up over my meshes (wet weather goggles). I was pretty confident that I wanted to lead on her anyway.”

At the finish Show Stopper was tough enough to hang on.

“I thought we’ve done a bit, we’ve run along, been looked at a few times, so even if she runs third she’d still have gone a pretty good race. “

Butts says Show Stopper feels like a staying filly and perhaps the New Zealand Oaks later in the season could suit her.

“She just loves freewheeling and she showed she was pretty tough today ,so I think when the races get to the longer distances she’ll stick on and be in the fight.”