By Duane Ranger
If Tara Butler had her way, she would be happy “hiding away behind the scenes”, quietly doing her job at a mid-week Redcliffe meeting.
But following last month’s first two-year-old pace of the season, the 44-year-old Logan Village horsewoman, could be in for a year of unwanted media attention.
On February 29 at Albion Park, the Jack Butler trained and Tara Butler owned A Rocknroll Dance filly, This Ones For You, won the $12,850 Burwood Stud 2YO Pace by a short-half-head.
Chris Geary drove the $1.90 favourite that night.
It was a courageous performance because This Ones For You led, trailed, and then led again before being headed in the straight by second favourite, Stoker Ace.
That duo cleared out from the field at the 400m and stopped the clock in 2:00.5.
The mile rate for the 1,660m mobile was1:56.8. This Ones For You’s sectionals were 28.1, 31.8, 28.8, and 28.2.
“We’ve always had a bit of an opinion with her, but that was a tough win. She surprised us the way she fought on so bravely. She has a good turn of foot," Tara Butler said.
“But you know I like to leave the talking and training to Jack.
"He’s more than a horse trainer, he’s a horseman.
"He understands each horse, and really gives them the attention they need and he knows This Ones For you inside and out.
“It is encouraging to have a nice 2-year-old, but you can’t get carried away after just one race.
"She’s had a couple of easy weeks since that win, and she is just getting back into her hopples again.”
The Butlers paid $21,000 for This Ones For You at the Sydney APG Yearling Sale last year and she is likely to provide Butler with her first Group One starter later in the season.
“The APG is the main goal at this stage and if successful in the heats, that will be my first Group One starter, and I’m really looking forward to that,” Tara Butler said.
Butler has been involved in harness racing since she met her husband at a Bathurst Gallops meeting 21 years ago.
“I’m a city girl and used to live just across the road from Harold Park in Sydney, but never went there," Tara Butler said.
"I didn’t know anything about the sport but then it all changed when I married Jack.
“Now I absolutely love the game and am a full-time horse woman.
"I have immersed myself in it, and so has my daughter Chloe (16). Marty (son – 15), not so much until recently.
“He has always been more of a ‘footy and motorbikes’ kid.”
This Ones For You was bred by C. J. and N. Hayes of NSW.
They also bred Sams The Master, who is also trained by the Butlers.
This Ones For You is the fifth of five foals of out of the eight-win ($34,344) 2004 In The Pocket mare, Onedin Spur (by Jaguar Spur).
Foal two – Sams The Master (by Tell All) is the most successful of the quintet so far having won 24 of his 62 starts, and placed in 13 others for $232,145 in purses.