Trainer Kelso Wood will line up Benny’s Buttons in this Saturday’s Listed Eye Liner Stakes at Ipswich.
Benny’s Buttons has won three of his 15 race starts during his career and has earned more than $239,000 in prize money.
Benny's Buttons will run in the Eye Liner Stakes at Ipswich this weekend. Photo by Daniel Costello.
However, the five-year-old was not up to his usual standard when he finished 14th of 15 runners in the Listed Chief De Beers Quality Handicap at Doomben last start.
The Refuse To Bend gelding was not able to put together a performance reminiscent of his win in the $50,000 BRC Dash at Eagle Farm in his previous run.
However, jockey Michael Cahill is confident that Benny’s Buttons is capable of turning his form around in the 2013 Eye Liner Stakes.
“He drew a bad gate that day and he was never on the track at any stage of the race,” Cahill said in defence of his last start run.
“I’d be putting the pen through the run and wouldn’t be taking much notice of it.”
Benny’s Buttons will relish the longer distance in the Eye Liner Stakes and the wet track conditions at Ipswich this weekend.
“Even though he was first-up that day from a long spell he felt really good and finished the race off strongly,” Cahill said.
“He’s definitely capable of being competitive in the Eye Liner and the wet track is another factor in his favour whereas a few of the others mightn’t be as well suited.”
Meanwhile, a wet track is also on the wish list of competing trainer, Kelly Schweida, who will run Doubtful Jack in the race.
Doubtful Jack as won nine of his 41 race starts and has earned more than $717,000 in prize money.
His last start run saw him finish second in the $17,000 Bottlemart Handicap at the Sunshine Coast last month.
Schweida believes Doubtful Jack has what it takes to win this Saturday’s race.
“He’s got form around Black Caviar, even though it’s a while ago, but at his best he’d be right in a race like this,” he said.
“No doubt his chances are better in the wet and his last run at Caloundra was quite good considering he hadn’t raced for nearly two months.”
