Trainer Grahame Begg has held a healthy opinion of the oddly named Butter Chicken right from the time the mare stepped onto the racetrack.
The daughter of Savabeel will line up for her sixth start on Wednesday when she runs in the Group 3 Ladies Day Vase (1600m) at Caulfield.
Beaten on debut before winning a 1600m maiden at Pakenham, Butter Chicken was sent straight to stakes company after that.
A close second in the Group 2 Autumn Classic (1800m) at Caulfield followed before Butter Chicken was sent for a break.
Butter Chicken ran a pleasing eighth in the Group 2 Let’s Elope Stakes (1400m) at Flemington on September 11 before finding the track too firm when ninth to So You Assume in the Group 2 Stocks Stakes (1600m) at The Valley on AFL Grand Final Eve.
The mare pulled-up lame on that occasion but has now fully recovered to press on towards her goals later in the spring.
Part of that program is Wednesday’s assignment at Caulfield, although Begg is hoping the track will not be as firm as it was for last Saturday’s Caulfield Guineas meeting.
“I want to make sure the ground is right for her,” Begg said.
“It was pretty firm on Saturday, and I know there is rain forecast.
“She didn’t get around The Valley and the track was so firm, and she pulled up only fair after that run.”
Butter Chicken has drawn off the track in Wednesday’s race, barrier 11 in the 14-horse field, and Begg will be instructing jockey Jordan Childs to let the mare balance up and run home.
“We think she’s going well, and her runs have been better than they look on paper, but she just needs a bit of juice in the ground,” Begg said.
