Paul Butterworth is relieved Jim Byrne declared he would ride at Doomben
Trainer Paul Butterworth admits he breathed a sigh of relief when jockey Jim Byrne declared he would be OK to ride at Doomben.
Byrne injured an ankle during the jump-outs on Tuesday and missed the Gold Coast meeting the following day.
He is confident he will ride at Doomben on Saturday meaning he can take the ride on the Butterworth’-trained Group One winner Capital Gain who resumes in the Listed Winning Rupert Plate (1200m).
Capital Gain will be having his first start as a three-year-old having won the Group One J J Atkins Stakes (1600m) at his last start when ridden by Byrne.
“Jim seems to know exactly how to ride Capital Gain. There were a few others chasing the ride if Jim was hurt but it is good to have him,” Butterworth said.
Capital Gain’s main aim is the Australian Derby (2400m) in the Sydney autumn but he will have a Brisbane summer campaign first.
There is a $500,000 bonus for any horse that wins three of five three-year-old races and Capital Gain can take the first step in the Winning Rupert.
Capital Gain is then likely to push on to the Listed Gold Edition Plate (1200m) and the Group Three Vo Rogue Plate (1350m).
Butterworth said a spell had done Capital Gain a lot of good and the form around him was strong.
“I think you will see a nice horse on Saturday,” he said.
Capital Gain will meet several of his winter rivals in the Winning Rupert including Sydney colt Pierata.
The Greg Hickman-trained Pierata was third in the Queensland Sires’ Produce Stakes and midfield in the J J Atkins.
Melbourne Cup-winning jockey Corey Brown will make the trip to ride Pierata who won a recent Randwick trial.
