Skip to main navigation Skip to main content

Champion Rocky trainer Tom Button relocates to Caloundra

9 October 2019

Share this page

Share on a platform

Or copy the page link

By Glenn Davis

Tom Button will return to his former hometown at Rockhampton on Thursday in a bid to snare his first winner as a Sunshine Coast-based trainer.

Button, a former champion apprentice and five-times winner of the Rockhampton trainer’s premiership, began a new chapter in his eight-year training career when he moved to new off-course stables at Caloundra two weeks ago.

The Stockbroker was one of his first starters from his new Caloundra-base when the three-year-old finished ninth against his own age at Doomben on September 28.

“I just felt the time was right for a new challenge and decided to move to Caloundra,” Button said.

“I’ve accomplished as much as I could in Rocky after winning the last five trainers’ premierships.

“There’s more prizemoney available down here and it gives my owners more opportunities as there’s a lot more racing here than in Rocky.

“I’ve got 22 boxes at Caloundra just off the track and most of my clients from up north have followed me which is good to see.”

Button was a star apprentice in his riding days before branching out to train with his biggest win coming in the Cleveland Bay Handicap at Townsville with Heartbreak Harry two years ago.

“I rode in a lot of the bigger races when I was a jockey and the Cleveland Bay has been my biggest win as a trainer,” he said.

“I’ll still be going back to Rocky with some my horses but I’m starting to get a better class of horse now which hopefully will measure up in Brisbane and Caloundra.”

Button went close to claiming his first winner from his new Caloundra base when five-year-old Toga Picta ran second at the Sunshine Coast last Friday.

Button believes The Stockbroker can bounce back to his best despite his recent Doomben defeat.

“It wasn’t his best run at Doomben and he seemed to be off his game,” he said.

“The class drop tomorrow will be a big help.”

The Stockbroker was rated one of Rockhampton’s best two-year-olds last season although his record stands at only one win and four seconds from 10 starts.

Heavyweight rider Brad Pengelly is booked to ride the son of Sidereus when he contests the QTIS Three-Year-Old Class 2 Handicap (1300m).

Racing Queensland webnews   October 9