Just nine months after winning his first Rockhampton Newmarket, local jockey Ash Butler is hoping to win the inaugural running of The Archer at Callaghan Park on Saturday.
Butler will be the only Rockhampton-based jockey in the $440,000 feature sprint, partnering the Rob Heathcote-trained Emerald Kingdom in the 1300m event.
Emerald Kingdom will run for local businessmen Rob and his wife Leonie Carr in the first running of the slot-style race, so Butler is hoping he can keep the rich prizemoney in Central Queensland.
On Wednesday night’s barrier draw, Emerald Kingdom came up with barrier two – a good draw on paper, but a sticky alley according to the gun hoop.
“To be honest – it’s probably going to sound stupid – but I was hoping to draw out a little bit,” Butler told HorseBetting.
“Just from talking to Rob Heathcote and watching his replays, he can be a little bit tardy away and because he’s such a roll-forward horse and a high-cruising speed horse, I would just have rathered to draw out on him where I can take my time and not have to bustle him early if he was to be tardy away.
“But a $400,000 race, you’ve got to be happy with drawing two.”
Emerald Kingdom’s form is certainly good enough to win The Archer, with a Group 3 win to his name against the subsequent Stradbroke Handicap winner just 12 months ago in the BRC Sprint at Eagle Farm, which fills the top Rockhampton rider with confidence.
Although Rockhampton’s long 600m straight looks straightforward, Butler says there are a few tricks to riding the course successfully, which he can only see as an advantage against southern riders on Saturday.
Given a number of interstate and Brisbane jockeys have been given the ride in the new race on southern horses, the local hoop is even more determined to reign supreme in what would be a enjoyable victory.
“It boosts my confidence because I’m the only local jockey in the race and the likes of a Group 1-winning trainer like Rob Heathcote putting all his faith in me, is a bit of an honour,” the jockey said.
“I ride here every day of the year, I know the track – if anyone knows the track, it’s definitely me, and he’s (Heathcote) more than happy to have me on board.”
While Emerald Kingdom isn’t overly fancied in the market by punters at double figure odds, Butler says he is going into the race full of confidence on what he believes is a “deadset top three chance”.
“I’m actually pretty confident to be honest,” he continued.
“Not the horse knows what price he is, I definitely don’t think he’s a $15 shot.
“I think he’s a deadset top three chance.
“I think he’s gonna love it. His second-up form is ridiculously good (7:4-1-0), his stats at 1300m are impeccable, I don’t think the 59kg will worry him because he’s such a big horse and drawn barrier two – he’s going to be able to dictate to them.
“He’s going to be the horse to run down.”
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