Healey Out For Flemington Double

Thursday, 24 June 2010 07:59

Peter Healey will target country Cups and lower-tier events with promising galloper Cheronbutch in the spring but the gelding will first try to make it four straight wins at Flemington on Saturday.

The Mornington trainer will give the Testa Rossa gelding only one or two more runs before a spell, including Saturday's Australian Lamb Company Hcp (1630m).

The four-year-old, who has won five of his 11 starts, scored first-up over 1200m at Ballarat on May 13 and followed up with successive Sandown victories over 1300m on May 26 and 1400m on June 9.

He was ridden on each occasion by Chris Symons who retains the mount on Saturday.

"There is a lot of upside with him and I don't think you'll see the best of him until he gets up to 2000 metres," Healey said.

"I don't think we'll be going much further with him this preparation. He's immature and still has a long way to go so we won't be silly about what races we look at for him."

Even though Cheronbutch has been winning on slow and heavy ground, both Healey and Symons believe the horse is far more comfortable on firmer tracks.

Costing only $14,000, Cheronbutch is out of a half-sister to 2001 Emirates Stakes winner Desert Eagle who went on to become Hong Kong Horse of the Year after a name change to Grand Delight.

Connections have had to be patient with Cheronbutch as he has had knee surgery and another operation to remove a flap of skin over a soft palate.

"You won't see the best of him until next season. We're not in a hurry to get there," Healey said.

Cheronbutch is $2.80 favourite with TAB Sportsbet ahead of Offenders at $3, Wednesday's Moonee Valley winner Have A Shot at $6.50 and veteran Riceman at $7.50.

Healey will saddle up another good chance in former Hong Kong sprinter Galbraith in the TCL Electronics Plate (1000m) which is a heat of the Victorian Sprint Series.

A rising eight-year-old, Galbraith won three 1000m races from 14 starts in Hong Kong and has won twice over 1000m at Moonee Valley and been placed twice over that trip at Caulfield in four runs for Healey.

His Valley wins have the trainer keen to aim the Anabaa gelding at the Group Two Moir Stakes (1000m) during the spring carnival.

"This horse has got serious super-speed," Healey said.

"I would love to have him back at Moonee Valley on Cox Plate day for the Moir."

Healey has done a good job managing Galbraith who has a degenerative bone disease which has attacked his joints.

Vets recommended retirement for the horse before he raced for Healey but Galbraith has responded to beach work.

The $150,000 Victorian Sprint Series Final (1200m) is at Flemington on July 10.

Pictures: Colin Bull & Fiona Tomlin