Final Classic Test for Errant Honcho

Bowen trainer Tom Button is banking on more gear changes and a return to Townsville’s Cluden Park to bring out the best in wayward two-year-old Head Honcho on Friday.

The erratic sprinter will be on trial for next month’s $100,000 Lawrence & Hanson 2YO Classic when he tackles the all-important Prelude 1200m.

Head Honcho has been more like a head ache for Button with his antics which saw him throw away a race in Mackay at his last start and almost bring down two other runners.

And the reason it seems, is that he he’s developed a habit of shying at the winning post.

Button has made gear changes for the third time in as many starts to keep Head Honcho focused. Pacifiers and nose roll go on, tongue tie and visors come off.

A pleasing barrier trial at Cluden has given him confidence the big gelding can mend his ways.

“The winning posts in Mackay and Doomben where he’s played up are bigger and brighter and I think that plays a part. He seems to go past the winning post a lot better in Townsville,” Button said.

“When he goes to the front and gets out on his own he can lose focus and go looking for something and most of the time it’s the winning post.

“He did everything right in the trial so that was pleasing to see. He hasn’t had a real drama in Townsville.

“I’m hopeful with the gear changes, and the trial and his win there, although he was still a bit green in the run, he’ll be much better.

“He certainly turned it on in Mackay. He was going to win it easily, but was relegated to third - that was the most disappointing part.

“But luckily no one fell and everyone stayed on.

“He’s actually a really quiet horse here at home. It’s a little bit out of character all of this stuff that’s he carried on with.

“He’s fairly well up to the mark. He’d had a few starts when I got him and was fairly well wound up. I don’t think he’ll improve with fitness.

“I’ll just be keen to see him improve his manners and if he does that I think that’ll go a long way towards finding out how good he is.”

Head Honcho, a veteran of nine starts, showed considerable early promise with three seconds in Saturday metropolitan class in Brisbane before transferring from Ryan Tyrell to Button in March.

From his new base in Bowen, Head Honcho won at Cluden over 1200m in April before his erratic third in Mackay a fortnight ago to Dance For Me Randy who he will meet again on Tuesday.

In-form stable apprentice Gabby Semmens has been booked to ride Head Honcho in a race in which the stable will also run the improving Hand Grenade and Under The Shadow.

“Gabby knows the horse,” Button said.

“After Mackay I didn’t want to put a new jockey on him. I went with a jockey who knows him. From the good alley and plenty of speed out wide he should get a good run in behind them.

“It’s important though that he doesn’t get to the front too soon. That’s when he tends to look around and lose concentration.”

Button will have a team of eight runners on the day and gives good chances to Northern Pride, Under The Limit, Finsceal and Our Benefit.

Pictured: No problem. Head Honcho (with Luke Tarrant in the saddle) cruises to a solid win at Cluden in April. His trainer Tom Button is hoping his big gelding can overcome his bad manners to win at Cluden on Friday.

See the racing calendar for upcoming race days.

Tony's Top Tips

Best Bet: R3. Head Honcho

Best Value: R6. Redavni