“Buttsy” Colours Ride Again in Good Cause

In-form sprinter Proximate Cause will carry the racing silks of his part owner the late Terry Butts (“Buttsy”) when he chases an emotional win at Cluden Park tomorrow.

Proximate Cause is a leading chance in the Vale Terry Butts Cl6 Plate (1000m), named in honour of the well-known Townsville trainer and media man who passed away last weekend.

Now under the care of trainer Garry “Muttaburra” Dickson, Proximate Cause has won his past two starts, both at Cluden.

Butts trained and raced the gelding in partnership with his daughters Anne-Marie and Melinda, and close friends Bob Pack and NSW trainer Mac Griffith.

Dickson said the gelding was spot on for tomorrow’s race.

“I think he’s a good chance. I’ll give it to the horse, he has a real will to win. He lays his ears back and always knows where the line is,” Dickson said.

“It’d be great to see him win for the family. They’ll all be there.

“He’s raced in the colours that Gift Man carried when he won the Cup (Blue jacket, gold spots - 1991) but on Thursday he’ll have Buttsy’s own colours: the black jacket, white spots and red sleeves.

“He was a good bloke and he was always good to me.”

Townsville Turf Club chairman Mal Petrofski paid tribute to Butts who was a “larger than life” racing and media man.

“Buttsy was passionate about racing and certainly let everyone know his opinion. He knew every bit of the industry from his experience as a bookie, journalist,  caller, owner and trainer.

“He wasn’t afraid to take on people in positions from the very top to the bottom.

“We didn’t always see eye to eye but at least you knew where you stood with him and you knew that in his mind he was fighting for what he thought was best for the industry.”

Holt stable lines up with strong team

Meanwhile, leading trainer Georgie Holt will go into tomorrow’s race meeting with a strong team of eight runners headed by stable star Bold Kingston, but it’s a lesser light that has her excited.

Holt is especially upbeat about the chances of ex-Victorian galloper Bones in the Mitavite 0-55 Hcp (1000m).

Bones hasn’t won for a year and a half but Holt is convinced the Eurozone gelding is close to recapturing his old winning ways after rattling home for an eye-catching second at 40-1 at Cluden last start.

“It was a ripper run,” Holt said.

“He had no luck in his first few runs this prep. First up he just couldn’t get a run through no fault of the rider, second up very similar and it could have ended the same last start from a wide gate but he got out wide and flew home.

“We’ve known since bringing him back in after a good spell that he’s improved out of sight in himself and is much better acclimatised.

“He’s drawn a gate this time. It makes a world of difference and I’m really looking forward to running him.”

Bones, a three time winner for trainer Mitchell Freedman in Victoria, hasn’t won since saluting at Colac in August 2021.

The Eurozone gelding was acquired by the Holt stable in August last year and after racing with moderate results in five initial starts, has thrived this time-in according to Holt.

The young trainer leads the Townsville premiership with 17 wins and is buoyant also about her other runners, especially tough stable star Bold Kingston.

The sprightly eight-year-old has won eight times from 17 starts since joining the stable last year and will line up as a leading hope in the Women In Racing Open Hcp (1400m) with Adrian Layt to ride.

Holt will also saddle up good chances Average Jane in the Cluden Park QTIS 2YO Hcp (1000m) and Forseti in the International Women’s Day Cl3 Hcp (1400m).

“Bold Kingston is so reliable and he’s a big horse who doesn’t seem to have any trouble with big weights. Average Jane has done well since her run in Cairns last week and will probably back-up and Forseti, you can’t fault the horse’s form. He’s come on leaps and bounds from when we first got him and he’s a good chance again.”

Pictured: Proximate Cause (centre) fights hard for a narrow win at Cluden last month with apprentice Isabella Teh in the saddle.

See the racing calendar for upcoming race days.