Bathurst trainer John Buttsworth celebrated a win at his home track on Monday afternoon, as his two-year-old red fawn dog Bitten Bye ($5.30) snagged a win at Kennerson Park.
It was a slow start on a wet surface, with racing delayed by almost 20 minutes due to heavy rainfall beforehand.
Bitten Bye started from the wide eight box in the GRNSW Pathways Stakes and was in sixth after the first sectional and for a majority of the race favourite Lika Vautin ($2.90) looked likely to win.
However, Bitten Bye never gave up and a mammoth run in the last turn and straight was enough for the Buttsworth-trained dog to finish one length ahead of Lika Vautin.
Buttsworth said his dog was badly boxed.
“I thought he needed the inside but he put his head down and went, which was good,” he said.
“I’ve only given him a few starts. He was trained in Queensland prior to that.”
Myrniong Mover ($6.50) finished in third, while Viking Spirit ($13.70), running from box one, finished fourth.
Rob George ($33.60) put in a strong performance in the opening section of the race but finished fifth.
River ($3.70) finished in sixth, Fair Dinkum ($10.20) seventh and Tokyo Rose ($32.60) eighth.
Buttsworth has now had Bitten Bye for a few months, with the dog previously being trained by Andrew Monaghan.
His last start for Monaghan was at Lismore on January 2 and Bitten Bye has now started three races since Buttsworth assumed training duties.
The Bathurst trainer has been pleased with the dogs performance in the short space of time.
“He’s had three runs – a win and two fourths. No complaints. I was very pleased. The owner had a good win,” he said.
“He’s a pretty docile dog, does what he has to do and that’s about it.”
The win was Bitten Bye’s sixth career win from 37 starts.
Added to his eight seconds and six thirds, the dog has amassed 20 placings in a career that started in late 2016.
Buttsworth is planning to enter Bitten Bye at Temora on Sunday.
* this article originally appeared in the Western Advocate - photo credit: Chris Seabrook
