Motu Meteor heading west for Golden Nugget

MOTU METEOR is West Australia-bound after a winning return in Ballarat on Saturday night.

Owner Merv Butterworth has confirmed he is targeting the rich four-year-old feature, the $200,000 Golden Nugget on Friday, December 8, with the KERRYN MANNING-trained and driven Motu Meteor.

Butterworth said Motu Meteor had been locked in for the trip to Perth for sometime, but the win reinforced he was on target.

The leviathan owner was hand to see the New Zealand import rate 1:58.2 after sitting outside the leader in the Flying Horse Bistro C6/better Pace, 2200m.

First-up since a third in a Breeders Crown final at Melton at the end of August, Motu Meteor has the outstanding record of 10 wins and four minor placings from 22 starts for almost $170,000 in stakes.

He is three-time group 1 placed, with a second in the Victoria Derby and third in the NSW Derby as well as his Breeders Crown outing.

Vinnie Chase led for Ahmed Taiba, but lost his chance of an upset when he blew a tyre early in the race – a stroke of bad luck which had Taiba shaking his head in frustration for the rest of the journey as a tyre came off the rim.

As good as Motu Meteor was, Vinnie Chase’s effort in finishing third was full of merit.

Motu Meteor completed a driving treble and training double for Manning.

She also scored on 5yo squaregaiter MATATOKI, which is also raced by Butterworth, in the Laser Electrical Ballarat Trotters T3/better Handicap, 2200m, from her stable and trotting mare VALSUE, trained by her father PETER MANNING in the Laser Solar and Batter TR0-TR1, 2200m.