Led by Scott Whitton, the Tumby Park Syndicate are back for another shot at glory in the Ladbrokes Ultimate Driver Championship, following a midfield finish in the inaugural series.
In 2026, it will be Zachary Butcher thrust into the hot-seat, the 12-time Group 1 winner answering an SOS to take the reins for Tumby Park across the 20-race series.
Swedish maestro Bjorn Goop was the syndicate’s driver in 2025 and was set to return, however plans went awry in January, paving the way for Butcher to line up as the lone Kiwi representative in the Championship.
“I had heard that Bjorn was not going to make it and so I contacted Brittany Graham and through her family connection was able to discuss things with Scott,” Butcher said.
One of several top drivers at Albion Park in 2025 to witness the first UDC, Butcher spent some time supporting Carter Dalgety while also enjoying the pit lane atmosphere.
“After being on track last year as a supporter for the brother-in-law, I was wanted to be involved on the other side of the fence and told Scotty I was keen to jump at the opportunity.”
That will see Butcher and Canadian James MacDonald as the only drivers in the championship with no regular week-to-week racing under Australian conditions, which will mean that the Kiwi will lean heavily into the Tumby team selecting him the right horses in the draft.
The draft is one of the unique aspects of the Ultimate Driver Championship, putting the horse selections in the hands of the slot holders.
“I might not have a full grasp of the form, but I am really keen to see how it is done,” he said.
“It seems that there is a lot of planning and you need to be ready to restructure your whole plan quickly if things change.”
“I might see things differently on the track and maybe a little more conservative than some drivers out there, so I guess getting the right horsepower will be vital.”
Butcher is no stranger to topline success in Australia with the 12 Group 1 wins in his career split evenly across both sides of the Tasman Sea.
Included in the six Group 1 victories in Australia is a Chariots of Fire in 2015, driving Our Sky Major to a tough victory over Bling It On and fellow UDC hopeful Luke McCarthy.
“I will quite happily be fist pumping whoever I beat,” Butcher laughed when asked would he be keen to strong-arm McCarthy once again after the Aussie landed New Zealand’s biggest race last year.
Despite Group 1 wins in Sydney, Melbourne and New Zealand, the UDC will be the first time that Butcher will have driven at Queensland’s home of harness racing, Albion Park.
“I’ve always wanted to drive Albion Park, but it has never worked out.
“Looking at the track last year when I was there, it looks similar to Cambridge and races left-handed as well.
“Cambridge is a track I have had luck at, so hopefully I can bring it to Brisbane.”
Along with the Tumby Park support crew, there will bring a strong contingent crossing the ditch to help cheer Zee Kiwi Flyer.
“My parents will be there, and my sister is going to fly in as well and Josh Dickie and his partner Sammy will be there also,” he said.
Just like his UDC theme song – the Fisher remix, Butcher is eagerly awaiting the UDC to start.
It’s That Time.
