Written Tycoon Colt Butch Cassidy Opens Account in Style

Mark Smith - Tuesday March 21

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.

Befitting his hefty price tag - Butch Cassidy is a good-looking son of a gun (image Pat Scala/Racing Photos)

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.

Butch Cassidy a $750,000 Magic Millions yearling

“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.

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“ 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.

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Race Result - Quayclean Mdn Plate 1200m

Mornington Track: Good(4) Time: 1:11.58
1
Butch Cassidy
- 2c Written Tycoon (AUS) x Rose Ahead (AUS) (Dream Ahead (USA))
Tnr: G Waterhouse & A Bott Rdr: Jordan Childs 58
2
2.0
Arizona Activist
- 2c Written Tycoon (AUS) x Phoenix Claws (AUS) (Foxwedge (AUS))
Tnr: Ben & J D Hayes Rdr: M J Dee 58
3
2.8
Tymon
- 2c Rubick (AUS) x Reilly O' (NZ) (O'Reilly (NZ))
Tnr: M Price & M Kent Jnr Rdr: Beau Mertens 58
4
7.0
Royal Standard
- 2c Dundeel (NZ) x Darousha (FR) (Redoute's Choice (AUS))
Tnr: James Cummings Rdr: B Mc Dougall 58
5
10.5
Kinky Reggae
- 2f Rubick (AUS) x Miss Jamaica (AUS) (Myboycharlie (IRE))
Tnr: Clayton Douglas Rdr: J Noonan 56
6
12.7
Blown Away
- 2c All Too Hard (AUS) x Cyclone Choux (NZ) (Jimmy Choux (NZ))
Tnr: Archie Alexander Rdr: Zac Spain 58
7
14.0
Mr Maximo
- 2c Shalaa (IRE) x Recoinage (AUS) (Flying Spur (AUS))
Tnr: Archie Alexander Rdr: Declan Bates 58
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