Paul Butterworth wins Wayne Wilson medal
Paul Butterworth has capped a great 2016-17 season by winning the Wayne Wilson Medal for an outstanding effort by a Queensland trainer.
He was the only Queenslander to train a Group One winner for the season when Capital Gain won the J J Atkins Stakes at Doomben in June.
Butterworth was one of 12 monthly winners for the Medal which is named in honour of race caller Wayne Wilson who died in 2014.
In the overall vote he scored 172 points to beat Magic Millions Classic- winning trainer Toby Edmonds (162), Tony Gollan (141) and Desleigh Forster (137).
“It is a great honour for a young trainer like me to win this award which is much sought after. I have been lucky to get a Group one horse,” Butterworth said.
He said Capital Gain was back in work with a light Brisbane summer carnival in mind.
“Capital Gain will head south in the autumn with the Rosehill Guineas and the Australian Derby our aims,” Butterworth said.
He hopes his good run will continue with promising juvenile Baby Boo in the two-year-old fillies race at the Gold Cast on Saturday.
“She won a trial in good style but it is a strong race,” Butterworth said.
Ben Currie, who trained 103 winners last season, was named Rising Star and Rockhampton’s Tom Button won the Encouragement award.
The Queensland branch of the Australian Trainers’ Association hsa also announced it has raised about $50,000 for trainer Darren Bell who has been forced out of the industry.
Bell was left with debts of $100,000 after Racing Queensland closed his stables because of a strangles outbreak.