Healy Not Rushing Cheronbutch

Tuesday, 08 June 2010 07:03

Trainer Peter Healy will be hoping his stable's rising star Cheronbutch can make it back to back city wins when he contests the $30,000 Betfair Handicap 0-82 (1400m) this Wednesday.

Cheronbutch was an eye catching winner of a 0-78 Handicap over the 1300m trip just a fortnight ago and looks perfectly placed by the in-form stable to repeat the dose on the Hillside circuit.

A pair of wins for the lightly raced four-year-old gelding would no doubt build Healy's confidence, something he noted was lacking leading up to Cheronbutch's last win.

"Normally I can tell when a horse is going to win, and tell my owners when to back them, but lately I have been way off the mark," said Healy.

"I have a big opinion of Cheronbutch, but I lacked the confidence to really declare him."

But this time Healy is more worried about Cheronbutch's confidence, something he intends to manage very carefully.

"We will just keep going through his grades this time in, we want to look after him," said Healy after track-work this morning.

"I believe as he steps up in distance he will continue to improve."

Despite a 1.5kg rise in the weights Healy is adamant the gelding's biggest danger will be the heavy track.

"I believe the horse is a genuine dead tracker," Healy said.

"He has won on heavy tracks, but I think that was just his class, both Chris (Symons) and I don't think he is a real wet tracker"

"Depending on how he pulls up we will probably look at a 0-89 at Flemington in two weeks time, but I wouldn't hesitate to put him back in the paddock if I didn't think he was ready," Healy added.

Cheronbutch has already eclipsed his purchase price of just $13,000 despite a number of setbacks and Healy is expecting bigger and better things down the track.

"The price tag was probably due to some minor confirmation faults and to be honest we have had to give him quite a bit of time, not to mention two operations," Healy said.

"He had a knee problem and hadn't long been back in work following that when they found he had an epiglotic entrapment, so he has seen his share of vets"

"Thankfully the owners have been very patient with him and are now reaping the rewards," Healy added.

'Reaping the rewards' is one thing but Healy is already plotting a strategy to have the son of Testa Rossa fit, in form and qualified for listed, even Group Three, races this time next year.

"If we look after him we could have a listed or Group Three horse on our hands this time next year," said Healy confidently.

Photos by Sportpix