Hellish Ready to Step Up in Big Sprint Mission

Bowen trainer Tom Button is growing in confidence that impressive stable newcomer Hellish can claim him another Cleveland Bay Handicap.

Button expects the former Rockhampton sprinter to show his big race credentials with a strong performance in the Chairman’s Sprint (1200m) on a massive card at Cluden Park on Saturday.

Hellish emerged as a genuine carnival contender with a big win over 1000m Cluden specialist Roweiner’s Dance a fortnight ago at his first start for Button.

The emergence of Hellish now gives Button a two-pronged attack on the $100,000 Cleveland Bay on August 9 with the stable’s Northern Pride on track to defend his title.

“The Sprint is a very good lead-up to the Cleveland Bay - you get a good guide out of this race. Northern Pride won it last year before he won the Cleveland and I expect Hellish to go close too,” Button said.

“He’s done really well and is in great order. I’m probably happier with him going into this week than I was in his first start for us.

“The 1200m will suit him and he’s drawn down low in 4. There’s a lot of positives there and I’m really happy with the way he’s settled into the barn.

“We’ve got a new jock in Aidan Holt. Aidan knows his way around and he’s an easy horse to ride. He’ll put himself where he needs to be, especially from that barrier.

“He’s certainly there to win and I expect him to be extremely hard to beat.

“He’ll have this start and then the Cleveland Bay.”

Hellish was formerly trained in Rockhampton by Clinton Taylor who won six of his first seven starts for the stable.

He was transferred to Button to target the northern carnivals after two unplaced runs.

“I trained for a couple of his owners and Clinton suggested he come up. He thought he needed a change and obviously with the carnival races coming up I think it was a mutual decision,” Button said.

“He just lost his way a bit his last couple of starts. I thought the 1000m might have been too sharp for him first-up, but he showed he still has the intent to get home hard.”

“Roweiner’s Dance is a good horse so to beat it over 1000m on its home track is a big effort.”

Button said Northern Pride was also on track for back-to-back Cleveland Bays after a luckless sixth in the Mackay Newmarket on July 11.

Saturday’s Sprint offers the winner a guaranteed start in the Cleveland Bay Handicap and has attracted an impressive field headed by classy Cairns galloper Speed Legend who will have to lump 64.5kg.

The Ladbrokes Winter Cup (2000m) will also prove a key carnival guide for the $150,000 Townsville Cup on August 9.

Boom galloper Tambo’s Justice – already guaranteed of the Cup start - heads the markets as he tackles his first staying test.

The Justify gelding has won six of his seven career starts and rocketed into Cup contention with his tough win in  the Magnetic Island Mile at Cluden on July 6.

Saturday’s 10-event card – the strongest meeting so far this year – also includes the time honoured Magic Millions Townsville Dollars (1400m) for three-year-olds and Queensland Plastic Surgery Ladies Bracelet (1300m) for Fillies and Mares.

The 10 race card kicks off at 11.27am.