Cleveland Bay winner on trial for Magic Millions

By Glenn Davis

Cleveland Bay Handicap winner Northern Pride will return to his old stomping ground in Brisbane on Saturday ahead of a Magic Millions Country Cup bid at the Gold Coast in January.

Northern Pride – a Michael Rodd mount – will line up for Bowen trainer Tom Button in the Benchmark 85 Handicap over 1200 metres at Doomben.

Button also accepted with Northern Pride in the No Metro Wins Handicap but he was forced to scratch him after he drew a horror barrier of 20.

“I would have preferred to run in the no metro race but he had 60kgs and once he drew barrier 20, I had to scratch,” Button said.

Northern Pride did his early racing in Brisbane when trained at Eagle Farm by Tony Gollan before he was put on the market and snapped up by Button for $20,000 at an online auction.

“I spoke to Tony after I bought him and the only reason he sold him was because he thought at the time he wasn’t quite up to the class down there,” Button said.

“He’s as sound as a bell and he’s done a great job for us winning six races.”

Northern Pride won the Cleveland Bay Handicap in Townsville in August before tailing off last in a field of eight behind Yes Dream at Cairns on September 13.

He proved the Cairns defeat wrong when he beat Prime Ruler over 1200 metres at Bowen two weeks later.

“He ran last in Cairns but it was a much better run than it looks on paper,” Button said.

“He should have won that race as well, but he got chopped out a couple of times going for runs and he was beaten less than three lengths.

“His last start win was very good and no one obviously watched his Cairns run as he started at $5 and we got something out of it.”

Button admits Northern Pride has been racing in much easier company up north but is confident of a strong performance before he heads to the paddock.

“I want to give him a break after this run so he can get ready for the Magic Millions Country Cup in January,” Button said.

“I haven’t decided yet but he could go into it fresh or just have one run before it.”

Button was relieved when 'Team Hawkes' scratched Sydneysiders Briasa and Stromboli in the Benchmark 85 Handicap on Saturday.

But, he remains wary of another interstate raider in Headwall.

“It’s a strong race and Headwall looks to be a good horse as does Matt Dunn’s Tribeca Star,” Button said.