Enigmatic gelding on form for second cup
HE is quirky, different and versatile — and now Buxton is a two-time Atherton Cup champion.
A chestnut gelding that can win over 1200m one week and then back up not long after and run a competitive race against the best stayers in North Queensland over 2000m, he is a bit of an enigma, Buxton, but he is a serious racehorse.
The six-year-old chased all the big cups in 2020, going close in the Cairns Cup, with Saturday’s Atherton Cup effort his 12th run of the preparation, stretching from late April.
Tablelands trainer Lisa Donovan won the race with her stable star in 2019, and defended her title on Saturday, with Townsville hoop Graham Kliese guiding him home under the top weight of 60kg.
It is always memorable when a local can win a country cup around FNQ, and the small Donovan stable was able to deliver that.
“He is pretty special when he puts it all together, that is the key said.
“He is a little bit different, just the way he is. He does not cop pressure on his mouth.
“He does not like a few certain things, you just need to play by what he wants, and if you keep him happy, he will keep you happy. for him,” Donovan
“We had to defend the title. I am glad we were able to pull it off.”
The Donovan yard only has a few horses in work, but they are always competitive and rarely run a bad race, like Buxton’s stablemate Set to Sizzle, who is as consistent as they come.
Donovan has chopped and changed her jockey choices over the journey with Buxton, with the experienced Kliese in the right place at the right time on Saturday.
The champion hoop was first on Buxton at Tolga in the middle of July, winning an Open Handicap over 1200m, and then went five runs without riding the locally-owned gelding, but was back on for the $16,000 Atherton Cup.
“He has got a few quirks, but he was really good today, everything went to plan,” Kliese said.
“He was a gentleman today. He did everything I wanted him to do.
“I just thought that if he was with the leaders at the corner, he is too brilliant for the horses in this race. They were just grinding, where he has a bit of brilliance.”
Donovan lamented that she was a tad unlucky to not have won a “big race” with Buxton over the past few years, but she says he is sound and there is plenty more racing left in him.
The Tom Hedley-owned Guangzhou finished second, following up his third placed effort in the Cairns Cup just a few weeks ago.