Button Hoping Weights Give Russian Edge

Trainer Tom Button believes weights give in-form sprinter Russian Mint the perfect set-up to topple Townsville 1000m specialist Roweiner’s Dance at Cluden Park on Tuesday.

Russian Mint, winner of last year’s Townsville Lightning, will enjoy an 8.5kg advantage over Roweiner’s Dance in the LOLS Comedy Festival Hcp (1000m).

Button is convinced the Russian Revolution gelding is at his peak after an eye-catching third to Roweiner’s Dance over 1000m and a slick win over 1200m last month at his only two starts for the stable.

He has booked fly-in apprentice Courtney Bellamy for Russian Mint, who will carry 53kg, while the Bill Kenning-trained Roweiner’s Dance will carry 61.5kg after Gabby Semmens’ 2kg claim.

But weights aside, Button has a healthy respect for Roweiner’s Dance who has won 13 of his 21 starts over the Cluden 1000m.

“Jeez Russian Mint impressed me the other day with how he ran through the line. It reminded me of his Lightning win last year,” Button said.

“He was good in the 1000m race when he ran third to Roweiner’s advantage but he really stretched out to the line and won easily over the 1200m.

“Hopefully if he comes with that form with 8.5kg pull in the weights he’ll be hard to hold out.

“Taking nothing away from Billy’s horse - it’s obviously the benchmark of 1000m races around Townsville – but I think he’ll know we’re there with that weight advantage.

Bill’s horse had that sustained speed but if I can hold the back of him and produce that change up I’m pretty hopeful he can go pretty close.

“The 53kg with Courtney will be important. In a small field from the four I’d imagine we’ll be on the back of Roweiner’s somewhere.

“If he can produce that change up of speed that we know he has I’m pretty hopeful he can go pretty close.”

Button, who has been based in Bowen for the past few seasons, is planning to relocate his team to Townsville in coming weeks.

He said he expects to make the shift in stages to the new on-course stabling complex at Cluden.

“It’s looking like in the next few weeks we’ll move just half of the barn at the start whilst the work track renovations are going on,” Button said.

“The plan is to settle them in and then look to move the other half just before carnival.

“I think I’ll appreciate getting up there and there’s a few things I can do horse wise that I can’t do in Bowen.

“Obviously Bowen has been great to us and has its advantages too being nice and quiet and with the beach just there.

“But not having to travel every meeting will be good for the horses and myself and staff.”

As well as running Russian Mint on Tuesday, the stable will be saddling up former Rockhampton galloper Rum Rumble in the Hygain BM55 Hcp (1200m) and expects him to run well.