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Hawkesbury trainer Peter Green was worried beforehand when his sole Kembla Grange runner today was “calm and collected” before his race.
But he need not have been.
Butch'N'Bugs, a $12 chance, sustained a determined burst from last in the Benchmark 64 Handicap (1400m) to post the fourth victory of his career.
"He wasn't on his toes at all; I was a bit worried," Green admitted as he left the track for the return trip home.
"As it turned out, that didn't matter and he did a terrific job to win again."
Ridden by Louise Day, Butch'N' Bugs led home a roughies' trifecta, overhauling C'mon Reg ($18) and Dom Tycoon ($31) to make it two wins in a row.
What a turnaround!
Butch'n'Bugs was banished back to the trials by RacingNSW stewards when he put on an uncharacteristic display at Wyong on February 15.
After jumping from the barrier in a Benchmark 64 Handicap (1350m), he bucked and headed to the outside fence and took no part in the race.
Green trialled the gelding on the Warwick Farm Polytrack over 740m on April 1 when stewards cleared him to resume his racing career.
He booked Louise Day for the mount in a Benchmark 58 Handicap (1100m) at Nowra on April 17, and it paid a nice dividend.
A 62kg burden didn't stop Butch'N'Bugs streamrolling his rivals, bolting home by five lengths as a $9 chance.
"Louise stayed back at the end of a long session of trials at Warwick Farm about six weeks ago to ride a couple for me at the end, and I don't forget those things," Green explained.
"She deserved a chance, and also rode Star Mission when runner-up at Kembla Grange last Saturday week."
Day again had the mount on Butch'N'Bugs today – and perhaps Green's gelding is a "ladies' man!
Three of his four wins have been achieved with women on his back. Cejay Graham was his rider when he broke through in a Wyong Maiden (1350m) on April 9, 2020.
Butch'N'Bugs, who carries the nicknames of the trainer and his racing manager brother Clint, fetched only $3000 when offered at the Inglis Scone yearling sale in 2018.
The Sidestep five-year-old has now earned nearly $120,000. "I wish I had a stable full like him," Green said.
Provided he pulls up well and continues to please at home, Butch'N'Bugs will be given the chance to clinch a hat-trick in town in a Midway Benchmark 72 Handicap (1400m) at Rosehill Gardens on May 21.
"Whilst he is racing so well, he deserves a crack in a Midway," Green said.
"These heavy tracks have been a blessing for him; he really relishes them."
. Today's victory gave Green his third winner of the season, and it was Butch'N'Bugs third from his last six starts.
