Button bullish about Just Call My Name at Sunshine Coast
It has been a little over 12 months since the likeable Tom Button moved his stable from Rockhampton to the Sunshine Coast’s Corbould Park, but he is starting to make an impact in South East Queensland.
Now into his 12th year of training, the 41-year-old has turned out over 240 winners and hopes to add another couple to that tally this weekend.
With nine runners lined up, Button believes Just Call My Name and Flying Crackerjak look his best two.
Just Call My Name lines up in a 1400m maiden at the Sunshine Coast on Friday night where she looks hard to beat.
“She’s been really good this prep, raced good first up from a wide barrier, she pushed forward, had to do a bit of extra work and it just paid late but that was first up after 12 months, so she just got a bit tired the last 100m there,” Button said.
“Then she backed that up with a good second last start and probably just ended up a pair further back than we wanted.
“Third up after that long break, I think she should be spot on.”
While it will be the first time that the Spirit Of Boom mare attempts 1400m, Button believes she is going well enough to win.
Flying Crackerjak stamped himself as a horse to follow last campaign, winning four straight at Rockhampton and Yeppoon before heading back south, where he was slightly outclassed. He lines up in a 1000m No Metro Wins Handicap on Saturday and is well in the market, although Button admits he may just need the run.
“First up, 1000m, he is probably slightly underdone,” he said.
“Whatever he does, he will improve from and he is drawn a bit awkward too.
“I think he is a place chance, but I know that he’ll be better for the run.”
Button’s stable star, The Tax Accountant, isn’t far off returning to the races, with the Rockhampton Winter Carnival hot on his radar.
“I think it could be The Tax Accountant’s year to measure up,” he said.
“Rocky Newmarket or Rocky Cup, whichever way I go I just think he has matured into that pretty seasoned, mature old galloper and I’m pretty keen to see where he ends up come carnival time.”
The Capricorn Yearling Sale race day is also right on the radar for Button given his success at the meeting in recent years.