Butterworth hopes for Ipswich treble

By Glenn Davis

Trainer Paul Butterworth has given punters a lead with hopes of landing a treble at Ipswich on Thursday.

Butterworth will saddle up Charlie Sphene in the Class 1 Handicap over 800 metres, Sino Defeat in the 1350-metre Benchmark 60 Handicap and Shadyvale Star in the Ratings 0-60 Handicap (1666m).

“I’ve only got three at Ipswich and all three are in their rights races and should be very competitive,” Butterworth said.

Butterworth would love nothing more to see Shadyvale Star salute for his apprentice Wendy Peel, whose three-kilogram claim brings the five-year-old right into contention with 55kgs.

Shadyvale Star hit the front in the straight at his last outing but was caught late to go under to the Doug Duryea-trained Sky One over 1710 metres at Ipswich on February 17.

“Wendy has been concentrating on Toowoomba lately and she’s getting her confidence back,” Butterworth said.

‘She was out for three months with a broken hip and probably came back a bit too quick and sometimes it takes time for a rider to find their judgement again.

“She’s been working really hard and it would be great for her confidence to ride a winner again.

“She’s been doing a lot of work with Tony Erhart studying her rides.”

Butterworth expects Shadyvale Star to be competitive again after drawing perfectly in barrier two.

“He was a bit stiff last time and should be competitive once again,” he said.

“He got to the front a bit too soon last time and the winner was on his tail and nabbed him on the line.

“When he gets to the front like that too early, he thinks the job is done.”

Butterworth rated Charlie Sphene as one of the best horses in his stable and is overlooking his first-up flop at the Sunshine Coast when he weakened to finish 12th in a 1000-metre Class 1 on January 18.

“Charlie Sphene is one of the best horses in my stable but I had to send him to the Gatton university for tests after his last run," he said.

“They found a few issues with him after he underwent a few tests and hopefully he’s right now.

“I think Sino Defeat also will run well after finishing second at Ipswich last start and he only just got beaten.

“He’s been going well since he was gelded and he’s going the right way.”