Northern reinsman Benjamin Butcher made a solid start to the new year and new season at Tauherenikau on Sunday, securing a winning double at the dual code meeting.

He struck early when Wheres The Gold took out the PGG Wrightson Mobile Pace (2000m) for employers Steve and Amanda Telfer.

He saluted the judge in the same colours three races later when Ideal Prince put in a brave performance to win the Osborne Group Chartered Accountants Mobile Pace (2000m).

“Ideal Prince ended up doing a bit of work and got left out wide early. He kept putting in his all and he was too good for them in the end,” Butcher said.

“Wheres The Gold has been racing in better company up in Auckland so it was a nice drop back in class for him.

“He has still got a little bit to learn but he did it reasonably well and hopefully the trip away might help improve him as well.”

Butcher also finished runner-up twice on the six-race card, including securing a stable quinella in the feature race, the Connie Stewart NZ Sotheby’s Int Realty Mobile Pace.

With a healthy family rivalry, Butcher was disappointed to concede victory to his father David, who reined home race victor Ace Strike, but he was happy about the result for the stable, and also his charge’s (Cruzee Mach) efforts fresh-up.

“They both went really well,” Butcher said.

“Cruzee Mach had a bit of a freshen-up and first time back he went well.

“I was a bit unlucky that the only one who beat me was my old man, but it was good that the stable won the race and got the quinella.”

Butcher was pleased with both his and the Telfer’s Wairarapa haul and is looking forward to the season with the dual-Island stable.

“It was a good start to the season,” he said.

“Steve (Telfer) wanted to come out with a bit of a bang, so it was a good result for the first meeting of the year for us.”