Burraneer Buoy takes another step towards Cleveland Bay

By Glenn Davis

Townsville trainer Graham Hughes hopes to continue his luck with bargain buys when Burraneer Buoy takes another step towards giving him a second Cleveland Bay Handicap during the Northern Queensland Winter Racing Carnival later this year.

The 71-year-old Hughes has been training for more than half a century but has only won the Cleveland Bay Handicap once with Prince Lonely in 1981.

While Hughes has run several placings in the Townsville feature, he feels Burraneer Buoy could be his next big chance of claiming the Cleveland Bay a second time.

Burraneer Buoy has been a rising star in Townsville since he arrived in Hughes’ stable from trainer Todd Howlett in July last year.

The son of Denman will be striving for his eighth win in 13 starts for Hughes when the six-year-old starts in the Open Handicap over 1400 metres at Townsville on Thursday.

“I buy a lot of horses off Todd and he was another cheap one who cost only $7,000,” Hughes said.

“He picked up $18,000 when he won in Cairns at only his second run for me."

Hughes is showing no signs of scaling back despite his longevity as a trainer and now has 14 horses currently in work.

“My wife tells me I’m getting sillier and sillier every year as I’ve now got more horses in work than I’ve ever had,” joked Hughes.

Hughes has retained regular rider Ivo Fry to again partner Burraneer Buoy who is coming off an impressive last start win in a 1200 metre Open Handicap at Cluden Park on April 21.

“It was a very good win as he was very strong at the finish,” Hughes said.

“Since I took over training him, he’s had a couple of gear changes and the weaker class here helps him.

“He used to race in a crossover nose band which he resented when he was down south, but he’s turned his form around since I took the gear off him.

“I really liked his last win as it was only 1200 metres and it was his first run in seven weeks.”

Fry has ridden Burraneer Buoy at his past nine starts and has been associated in six of his seven wins to date.

“Ivo has always liked him since the day he first rode him in trackwork,” Hughes said.

“I’d been forced to leave town if I didn’t put him on again.”

Hughes believes the Cleveland Bay Handicap over 1300 metres in August is the ideal target for Burraneer Buoy.

“I think 1400 metres is his best distance and since he’s been here his ratings have gone up enough to get him into the Cleveland Bay,” he said.

“He’s always competitive in his races so he should be very competitive again on Thursday.”