The Nagambie trainer-driver has employed Butt, who gifted Gavin the 2002 Inter Dominion-winning drive on Game Bid, to pilot his second-stringer, Skyvalley, in the $250,000 Group 1 event at Moonee Valley.

Lang was forced to find a replacement for Gavin, who drove the four-year-old into second place behind One Over Kenny in his semi last week, when his brother opted to drive Save A Sixpence, who is trained by their father Graeme, in the final.

“Going back to 2002, Anthony Butt had two drives in the Inter Dominion trotters final and he chose Take A Moment over Game Bid,” Chris recalled.

“Gavin hopped on Game Bid and was able to win it, so I’m looking for a similar scenario to unfold in reverse.”

Lang couldn’t be happier with acquiring Butt’s services for the Jim Connelly-owned entire. While he missed out in 2002, Butt has previously partnered Lyell Creek (2000) and Take A Moment (2001 and 2003) to Inter Dominion trotters’ success.

“That was the owners decision, I left it entirely up to him, and he decided he wanted Anthony because he knows how to drive in the big races and that’s what you want,” said Lang, who will drive stablemate Sundons Gift in the final.

And Butt will get his chance to equal Tony Herlihy’s Inter Dominion trotting record of four titles aboard last year’s Australasian Breeders Crown 3YO winner in the 2575-metre mobile according to Lang.

“He’s come through the hit-out the other night quite nicely, he seems well, he’s looking strong and we’re ready to go,” Lang said of Skyvalley.

“We’ve got to remember he was able to sit on Australian record speed in the Breeders Crown final and still finish over the top of them.

“I know it’s an extra 400 or 500 metres this week, but the high speed won’t be a big issue for Skyvalley and while he’ll need a few favours to go his way, I don’t think winning is beyond him.”

Lang’s best shot, however, is Sundons Gift. He reported that the enigmatic gelding, who returned to his best with a strong semi final win over Save A Sixpence, was ready to run the race of his life in the feature at 8.30pm.

“You can never be 100 percent sure of what you’re going to get with him, but last week showed he was on song,” Lang said. “He’s ready to run a good race.”