Colby and Field Officer will be fighting for favouritism in the Burnt Blades Horse Help 3YO Pace and Bathurst RSL Club Pace (both 1730m) respectively.

Kiwi trainer Butt boasts a formidable stable of horses, including this year’s Miracle Mile winner My Field Marshal, and while his two Bathurst contenders are nowhere near that class they’re looking like red hot chances for victory.

Colby, a cleverly-named gelding by Betterthancheddar, was a close runner-up on his New Zealand debut in June and has looked strong over a series of trials in the lead up to a second career start.

Geary was in the drivers seat for Colby’s three trials and likes what he sees in the three-year-old as he gears up for a first Australian start.

“He’s been over for around six weeks or so and he was one of those horses that we didn’t know what to expect when he came over but every time he’s trialled he’s gotten better and better,” he said.

“He’s a horse I’ve got a little bit of time for now because those last couple of trials were really encouraging.”

Colby comfortably won his latest trial at Menangle in a mile rate of 1:56.6.

He’ll go out from gate four in Wednesday’s race.

“This race will give us a really good guide of where he’s at, and regardless of how he goes I’m sure he’ll keep improving,” Geary said.

“Obviously he’s only had the one start … but he’s never looked like doing anything wrong since he’s been here.

“He hasn’t shown a great deal of gate speed in his trials but I’m sure when the time comes to use it then it will be there.”

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Field Officer made his long awaited return to racing on Thursday at Penrith after more than three years in the paddock.

The 10-year-old veteran wasn’t far off the pace in a third place finish.

Field Officer achieved that result despite a lack of trials and Geary said that bodes well for a trip west.

“He’d had a few years off before he came to us. We were wary that he’d go into that needing the run, no matter what, but he ended up running it really well against some nice horses,” he said.

“I’m sure that he’ll be a lot fitter for that run and hopefully there’s only improvement in him. If he gets anywhere near his best from once upon a time then I’m sure he’ll be pretty hard to beat.”

Christian Cullen gelding Field Officer is a former Gold Coast Cup and Lord Mayors Cup champion at Albion Park but leading up to his lengthy absence he had struggled to recover anything close to that form.

Bathurst’s six-race meeting starts from 5.07pm.

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