After finishing second in the Listed Festival of Racing Stakes at Flemington on March 4, the $750,000 Written Tycoon colt Butch Cassidy made short work of a field of maidens over 1200m at Mornington on Tuesday.
Ridden by Jordan Childs for Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott, Butch Cassidy settled outside the leader Kinky Reggae. After dropping that filly before the home turn, Butch Cassidy kept up a solid gallop to defeat fellow Written Tycoon colt Arizona Activist by two lengths with the Rubick colt Tymon three-quarters of a length back in third.
Sporting the dark green, gold epaulettes silks of James Harron, Jordan Childs said Butch Cassidy still has a bit to learn.
“He is still learning his craft, and it was good to see him to that today,” Childs said.
“I had to help him out as he was fractious in the barriers, but I was happy to let one go and sit outside the leader. It probably helped him as he had one to chase down.
“Even though I was in front a long way from home, he still found the line nicely, and he has a lot of upside and hopefully keeps improving.
“ At the moment, I would keep him to the shorter courses while he is still learning, but when he strengthens up next prep, he will be a nice horse.”
Butch Cassidy was a $750,000 purchase for James Harron Bloodstock Colt Partnership from the Milburn Creek draft at the 2022 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.
He is the first foal of the winning Dream Ahead (USA) mare Rose Ahead, a half-sister to Group III SAJC RN Irwin Stakes winner Daytona Grey (Artie Schiller) and Listed winner Mail It In (Reset).
Rose Ahead has a filly foal by Star Turn and was covered by Zoustar in December after missing to earlier covers by Home Affairs and Extreme Choice.
