Trainer has eye on $160K+ up for grabs in CQ feature races

Trainer ‘zeroing in’ on lucrative spoils of two Central Queensland races.

Sunshine Coast trainer Tom Button.

THE LUCRATIVE spoils of two Capricornia Yearling Sales feature races at Callaghan Park, Rockhampton next month are the focus of attention for Sunshine Coast trainer Tom Button.

Button is zeroing in on the $93K CYS 3YO Guineas (1200m) and the $68K CYS QTIS 4 and 5YO Championships (1300m) with an understandable degree of optimism.

Both races along with the inaugural $25K heat of the Coral Coast Shield Open Qualifier (1050M) will be run on Saturday, October 17.

That day is penned in as welcome back to the crowds on course for the St. Peter’s School Caulfield Cup race day.

At Mackay’s TAB races last Saturday, the Button trainer The Silver Lady (gr f 3 Sidereus-Special Deposit) staked her claim for the Guineas with an emphatic win in a 3YO QTIS Cl 1 (1300m).

“It was just the perfect lead-up race for her before going straight in to the Capricornia Guineas. The prize money at Mackay was just too good not to run her,” Button said.

With QTIS bonuses applicable, The Silver Lady collected $21,050 for her group of, in the main Central Queensland based owners.

“She has come through the race well and will come back down here (Sunshine Coast) this week. I may also start Miss Lot Won in the Guineas at Rocky as well,” Button said.

Miss Lot Won took out the rich CYS 2YO Classic at Callaghan Park last April.

Between them both Sidereus fillies purchased from Oaklands Stud at the Rockhampton Capricornia Yearling Sales in 2019, have returned their CQ owners $241,700 in prize money.

Button will have strong dual representation in the CYS Championship with his two in-form gallopers The Tax Accountant and Flying Crackerjack.

“Flying Crackerjack is in very good from with his last two wins on end at Rocky and Yeppoon. He has been an unlucky horse with a number of seconds,” he said.

Rockhampton will be represented on Saturday in Toowoomba with the Graeme Green trained Master Jamie contesting the $125K Weetwood Handicap (1200m).

Master Jamie is one of 31 entries for the time-honoured Darling Downs feature sprint.

On all important benchmark ratings which are calculated as a gauge of the official form assessment, Master Jamie marked on 90 is the 10th highest horse among the list of nominations.

Trainer Green, who has guided Master Jamie to 12 wins from 18 starts for $346K earnings indicated that jockey Led Tilley would regain the ride in Toowoomba.

Rockhampton trainer john Wigginton was successful at the Sunshine Coast on Sunday with Angola Miss in the $30K Class 1 (1600m).

Meanwhile at Clermont races last Saturday which were dominated by female jockeys, Rockhampton trainer Clinton Taylor kept up his winning streak when Unusual Aunt was successful.

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