Tom Button settling into new North Queensland base

By Jordan Gerrans

Tom Button says his new crop of exciting fillies have settled into North Queensland beautifully as they aim up to the feature Pallarenda Stakes at Cluden Park on Saturday afternoon.

The Pallarenda Stakes is the annual opening two-year-old race of the season in the north and will be raced for $35,000 in each division of genders.

Button will front up with three girls in the fillies event and has identified recent trial winner Silver Glitter as the leading hopeful of his trio.

After previously training out of a few different cities in Queensland, the Button camp have recently relocated to Bowen in North Queensland on a permanent basis.

Button originally headed north from his Gold Coast base for a few months to race his team through the Northern Queensland Winter Racing Carnival.

He enjoyed his experiences so much that he has opted to remain at Ben Bolt Park at Bowen.

“I was here for about a month and I thought it would be a good place to start up a stable,” the former jockey said.

“I originally thought about having a stable at the Gold Coast and here at the same time but after a bit of thinking and time here, we were going well so we decided to stay.

“It is a good way of life here and maybe downsizing the stable numbers would be good for me.

“I am more into being hands-on with the horses and hopefully it can be quality instead of quantity.”

The Button stable has 14 in work at Bowen and the trainer notes all the horses are enjoying their new surroundings.

Button hails from Central Queensland originally before stints training on the Sunshine and Gold Coasts.

He is a multiple winner of the Rockhampton trainers' premiership.

Based in the Whitsunday region of Queensland, Bowen is an ideal training location for a team that is willing to travel with Cairns, Townsville, Mackay and Rockhampton within driving distance.

Debutant fillies Sewn Up, Social Change and Silver Glitter head to Townsville Turf Club on Saturday for the QTIS 2YO Fillies Pallarenda Stakes Maiden Plate over 1000 metres.

Silver Glitter put her best foot forward in her only official trial earlier this month at Cluden Park, scoring by just over three lengths.

Button’s partner and apprentice hoop Gabrielle Semmens was in the saddle for the trial.

While Button has high hopes for all three unraced youngsters, he thinks the daughter of Denman is the barn’s greatest hope of scoring the prize on Saturday.

“I think Silver Glitter trialled the best, we trialled them all on the same day in Townsville,” the Bowen-based trainer said.

“That is a pretty good lead-up into a race like this. She was the most expensive of the three, we paid $37,000 for her.

“The other two go ok, Sewn Up is a nice filly that will take a bit of time and will be better next preparation.

“Social Change is a speedy little filly that I think can definitely win some QTIS races.”

The trio of fillies were purchased through the Capricornia Yearling Sale and all will be targeted at the rich race series that accompanies it.

“I have got a bit of a program now how I work for the Capricornia Sales race,” Button said.

“They probably got to be out in the paddock at certain times and then back in work at certain times.

“If they can pick up a little prize money early on then that always helps qualifying into that race.

“It is a good race to win the Capricornia Yearling Sale, especially if you are a QTIS filly.”

As well as Button, local trainers Sarah Acornley and Georgie Holt will also have multiple runners in the Pallarenda Stakes races on Saturday.