Allan Hughes knows a thing or two about training provincial cup winners, his trophy cabinet is jam-packed, but one race to elude him is his hometown Geraldton Cup.
On Sunday, Hughes thinks he has a golden opportunity to wrest that wrong and finally put his name on the honour roll when he saddles up Butterflyrock in the $125,000 event.
Sentiment aside, Hughes is in a good spot with Butterflyrock, an in-form Galah stayer who has flourished as her campaign has gone longer.
She’s on a four-race winning spree, has won five out of her past six starts and since October, she’s not finished outside the first three.
Hughes hasn’t gone into a Geraldton Cup with a live chance before, his last hope was Cyclone Lilly who ran seventh a decade ago.
Ten years on he feels the circumstances are different and his confidence levels are a little stronger.
“I’ve won every cup in the mid-west, but this is the only one I haven’t won,” Hughes said to Racing WA.
“I won the Meekatharra Cup, Mount Magnet, Yalgoo, Mingenew, Dongara, Northampton, Walkaway.
“I’ve won the lot of them, but never, ever the Geraldton Cup. I think I’ve only ever had one horse in it years ago.
“I’ve never had a stayer good enough, but everything is falling into place, all the planets are aligning.
“She’s doing it effortlessly and it’s a sign of a good horse.
“I’ve got a bit of a soft spot for her.”
After a few training turnarounds, Butterflyrock has been part of Hughes’ system since 2022.
She got off to a slow start, finding her feet in a new environment but has struck peak form this time in.
“The penny just dropped,” Hughes said.
“She wanted to be a racehorse.
“She’s learnt what it’s all about.
“She’s matured into a lovely racehorse.”
Madi Derrick gets back on Butterflyrock after being part of her winning streak two starts back.
She takes over from Natasha Faithfull who rides Manavendra.
Hughes says Butterflyrock should find a prominent spot in running after drawing low.
“We’re drawn five and I would like to be in the first four or five,” Hughes said.
“If she comes out quick, she sits behind the leader which will be really good.
“That will give us a cart into the race, and we take it from there.”
Hughes is trying not to get too far ahead of himself, but he’s confident Butterflyrock will try her heart out.
“I’m one of those blokes that never count their chickens before they hatch,” Hughes said.
“But she’s really well, she’s working the joint down, she’s eating the bin out, she’s going to give them something to catch, anyhow.
“Whatever beats her will be sleeping well that night.”
