Irish Butterfly (NZ) (O’Reilly) will chase success in the Listed Warrnambool Cup (2350m) on Thursday following his victory at Sandown last weekend.
Trainer Henry Dwyer didn’t take much convincing to line the son of O’Rellly up this week after Irish Butterfly went home from that win at Sandown and ate all his feed, something Dwyer said was a rarity.
That feat had almost made Dwyer’s mind up on Sunday morning and all he needed to see on Monday morning before acceptance time was that the gelding’s action was sound.
“That was going to be the test whether we went there or not, but he came through it and he licked the bin that night, which he doesn’t even normally do, not even after a raceday,” Dwyer said.
“So, he’s really enjoyed the day and he’s come through the race pretty fresh and well, he’s sound, so we’re happy to push on.
“He had a roll-on on Monday and his action looked good, he’s moving well, so we’ll butter up again.”
The back-up from Saturday to Thursday had not been a consideration for Irish Butterfly prior to his victory on Saturday, even though Dwyer had nominated for the Warrnambool Cup.
Dwyer said when told of Witchachar Star winning at Sandown 12 months ago and then completing the Warrnambool Cup double it peaked his interest.
“I nominated him for the Warrnambool Cup thinking it would be either Sandown or Warrnambool, not both,” Dwyer said.
“But with the ease that he did it, I just thought we might as well push the button.
“A couple of people alerted me to Witchachar Star and if it was good enough for them, I thought it’s good enough for me.
“I think he was a 70-rater when he won last year and I think we’ve gone up to 81, so we’re not as badly off at the weights, and he’s got a nice weight drop on the minimum from Saturday.”
Apprentice Celine Gaudrey, who has ridden Irish Butterfly to his past two victories at Sandown on March 22 and last Saturday, will again have the ride on Thursday in the non-claiming race.
“She’s done a great job on him, so why not,” Dwyer said.
Irish Butterfly was purchased by Dwyer in partnership with Randwick Bloodstock out of Pencarrow Stud’s 2017 New Zealand Bloodstock Yearling Sale Premier draft for $220,000. The now seven-year-old has seven wins and 12 placings for over A$351,000 in stakes.
