Button Wins Wild Card for Cleveland Bay with Promising Pride

Just days ago, Bowen trainer Tom Button was staring down the prospect of not having a big race contender over the Ladbrokes Winter Racing Carnival at Cluden Park.

That all changed on Saturday when his progressive sprinter Northern Pride rocketed into Cleveland Bay Hcp contention with a brilliant win in the Townsville City Council Mayor’s sprint on a sun-soaked Explore Property Munro & Co Ladies Day.

The Better Than Ready four-year-old stole the show with a courageous victory that gave  premier jockey Lacey Morrison her fourth winner for the day.

And importantly for Button and the gelding’s connections, the race gave the restricted class galloper a guaranteed start in the Cleveland Bay Hcp on August 3, a race dear to his heart.

“I think this horse has really stepped up this preparation. He came with a low rating, and he’s progressed through the classes and had to win today to win his way in (the Cleveland Bay),” Button said.

“He’s certainly on the right trajectory and he’s in form.

“My dad Tony won the Cleveland Bay with Yallah Stinger in track record time over the 1200m in 2000 and Heartbreak Harry won it for me in 2007. 

“It’s a race that has a special place in my heart. I love winning it and I’m absolutely rapt that this horse has now got a start.

“I didn’t know if he could make it into the Cleveland Bay and I was thinking more Cairns Newmarket because I wasn’t sure I could get his rating up enough.

“But I will say when I bought him I made a phone call to Tony Golan and he gave him a fair wrap and said he wasn’t far off a Saturday horse.

“He thought we’d have a heap of fun with him. That gave me a bit of confidence to know that if he thought he was nearly Saturday grade with a stable of his calibre he must have shown him something.”

Northern Pride was one of two horses he bought when he made the shift from the Gold Coast to Bowen last year and was a $20,000 purchase in an on-line sale. Many of the original owners stayed in the ownership of the horse.

Button’s spirits were raised even further after the race when Morrison, who was untouchable on Saturday with her quartet of winners, confirmed she would ride the horse in the Cleveland Bay.

Morrison was upbeat about Northern Pride’s chances in the north’s biggest sprint with a light weight.

“I think he’s up to a Cleveland Bay. He’s not going to have much weight, he’s a horse on the up and that’s what I like about him,” Morrison said.

“His previous start he was beaten by Chilli Jam but I don’t think it suited him being up on the speed and there wasn’t much pace on.

“He really found the line better today ridden with a bit of cover so he might take another step up. 

“There’ll be good speed on, which suits him, because he’s very versatile. I wanted to be positive on him today but it would suit him to ride him a bit quieter too if the speed is right on.”

Morrison, who is sailing to another Townsville jockeys’ premiership with 36 winners and Sunday’s Guineas meeting to go, was in red hot form on Saturday.

Her four winners included all three feature races – the Mayor’s Sprint on Northern Pride, the Ladbrokes Winter Cup on Fortified and the Explore Property Munro & Co Ladies Bracelet on Lady Rain.

Her other winner was Beau Rain who won the Higgins Group 3yo Hcp (1400m) and will be her mount in the Guineas next Sunday on Day 2 of the Townsville carnival.

“I actually thought I’d be lucky to ride a winner today. You know what these big days are like. I did the form and knew they’d all be there but you’ve got to get the breaks and fortunately it went my way today,” she said.

“I’m very happy.”

Pictured: Northern Pride secures a start in the Ladbrokes Cleveland Bay Handicap, held on 3 August, after storming home to win the Townsville City Council Mayor's Sprint at Cluden Park last Saturday. 

See the racing calendar for upcoming race days.