Hellish on right path for Cleveland Bay

By Glenn Davis 

Trainer Tom Button believes former Rockhampton sprinter Hellish is on the right path to giving him a third win in the Cleveland Bay Handicap in Townsville next month.

Hellish was trained by Rockhampton’s Clinton Taylor before his owners transferred him to Button’s stables in Bowen for the Northern Queensland Winter Racing Carnival.

The four-year-old son of Hellbent started his career with Danny O’Brien in Victoria but won only one race before being sold at an Inglis online auction for $11,000.

He subsequently went on to win seven times in only 12 starts, including six in succession, under Taylor’s care.

Hellish made the perfect start on debut for Button in a 1000 metre Open Handicap at Townsville on July 6 and will aim to maintain his perfect stable record in the Chairman's Sprint over 1200 metres in Townsville on Saturday.

“I can’t take any credit for the win as he came to me from Clinton in perfect order,” Button aid.

“His win for me was full of merit as he hadn’t won over 1000 metres before and he beat Roweiner’s Dance who is a quality horse.

“He sat outside the leader that day and was too strong.”

Button has earmarked the $100,000 Cleveland Bay Handicap over 1300 metres on August 9 as the main winter target for Hellish.

A former champion trainer and jockey in Rockhampton, Button has won the Cleveland Bay Handicap twice with Heartbreak Harry in 2017 and last year with Northern Pride.

“I’m shooting for three Cleveland Bays and I’ll have Hellish and Northern Pride in it this year,” Button said.

“Hellish had a great run winning several times in Rockhampton for Clinton and he’s rating is good enough get into the Cleveland Bay.

“He should be very competitive again this week before he runs in the Cleveland Bay and he’ll then head north to Cairns for their carnival.”

Button is pinning his Northern Queensland Winter Racing Carnival hopes on Hellish as he won’t have a Cups horse this year.

“I’m lacking a bit of quality for the Cup races this year, so I won’t have a Townsville Cup runner,” he said.

“But, the stable is going good and we just got beaten in the Battle Of The Bush in Brisbane with Under The Limit.”