Button bowled over by Storm
BARBADOS Storm left it until the last stride to clinch a thrilling victory from hometown favourite Pure Hawk in yesterday’s Townsville Guineas ( 1609m) at Cluden Park.
The Jeffrey Caught- trained Pure Hawk ($ 2.05) thrived with the quick tempo to lead the field by more than three lengths as they hit the home straight.
But Rockhampton raider Barbados Storm ($ 13) still had something left in the tank as he charged to the line to edge out Pure Hawk, with the fast- finishing Miss Miao ($ 2.70) in third.
Winning trainer Tom Button said he was confident all week that Barbados Storm was primed for a big race, but he conceded there were still a few nerves after Pure Hawk had broken clear.
Button praised the ride of jockey Les Tilley to get the horse out of trouble, with the pair combining for two winners this week after Ekklestone’s win in Rockhampton on Tuesday.
“Halfway up the running, I thought he was going to ride a nice second, but ‘ Bubba’ ( Tilley) is riding good and he rode him a treat,” Button said.
“I’ve said all week I was pretty confident and I just think he’ll run a race. “I knew he’d hit the line. “He was a long way back halfway up the running, but he got home hard.
“We set this race a long way out. This was always going to be the race I really wanted and for it to come off is unreal.”
Cluden Park has been a happy hunting ground for Button after he won last year’s time- honoured Cleveland Bay sprint with Heartbreak Harry.
Heartbreak Harry will be looking to go back- to- back this weekend, with Button also saddling up Deconstructed, and the Rockhampton trainer said he was excited about his prospects.
“It’s a really strong race, but they’re both chances,” Button said.
“I don’t mind Townsville anyway. It’s been pretty lucky for me so far.”