HAWKESBURY trainer Peter Green is chasing another Northern Rivers country cup at Coffs Harbour on Friday – but as an owner.
Green and his brother Clint part-own last start Grafton Maclean Cup winner Butch’N’Bugs, who is one of 32 entries for the $150,000 Moonee Beach Hotel Coffs Harbour Cup (1600m).
The Cup headlines a $450,000 eight-race program, and carries eligibility for the $3m The Big Dance (1600m) to be run at Royal Randwick in November.
Wyong trainer Sara Ryan won both the Coffs Cup and Big Dance last year with Attractable.
Green, who spent some time at Kembla Grange before recently moving back to Hawkesbury, trained Butch’N’Bugs earlier in his career and won five races before sending him to close friend Joel Pengilly at the Gold Coast after he had scored over 1400m at Kembla Grange on August 23 last year.
“Joel won first-up with Butch’N’Bugs at Ipswich a day before Christmas, and has done a good job with him,” Green said on Monday.
“He has won another two races, including a victory at Coffs Harbour over 1315m on a heavy track on June 14.
“Joel had a crack at the South Grafton Cup (1610m) with Butch’N’Bugs at his next run, and then won the Maclean Cup (1400m) on July 21 at the end of the Grafton carnival.
“The 1400m is really his best distance, but he relishes heavy ground (Coffs was rated a Heavy 8 on Monday), and he’s keen to have a shot at the Coffs Cup.
“Butch’N’Bugs is rising eight years of age, but is still kicking goals.”
Green paid only $3000 for the Sidestep gelding at the 2018 Inglis Scone yearling sale, and he has now earned nearly $250,000 in prizemoney.
Butch’N’Bugs aside, there are five provincial nominations for the Coffs Cup.
Newcastle’s Kris Lees has entered Almania, Sailor and Yankee Hussel, Wyong’s Kim Waugh has Bethencourt, and Gosford’s Greg McFarlane nominated last start Newcastle winner The Great Houdini.
Coffs Harbour Racing Club received a total of 209 entries for the Showcase meeting – and only one race (the 1400m Country Boosted Maiden Plate) - has been extended until 11am on Tuesday.
Along with the Cup, there are plenty of provincial entries for both the $50,000 Daniel Baker Sprint (1200m), and $50,000 Ken Howard Cup (2000m).
Lees nominated French Marine and Oakfield Duke for the Sprint, McFarlane has Rahni Factor, Waugh has Oxford Vision, and fellow Wyong trainer Damien Lane nominated Impact Star.
There are seven provincial entries for the Ken Howard Cup, named in honour of the iconic broadcaster, who called his last Sydney race at Royal Randwick on New Year’s Eve 1973, and died at Nambucca Heads in October, 1976.
Lees has Classic Deel, Prime Impact and Sailor, fellow Newcastle trainer Jason Deamer has Jack Duggan, Wyong’s Brett Partelle and Allan Kehoe have Commander Bell and Dreamdeel respectively, and Hawkesbury’s James Ponsonby nominated last start Wagga winner Socrates.
. Acceptances for all races are due by 9am on Wednesday, July 31.
Story John Curtis, July 29, 2024 - Pics Bradley Photos
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