Bright future forecast for Head Honcho

By Glenn Davis

Bowen trainer Tom Button rates talented sprinter Head Honcho one of the best in his stable and is hopeful better things are ahead for the three-year-old after his Townsville assignment on Thursday.

Head Honcho is chasing back-to-back wins in the Class 3 Plate over 1000 metres.

Button bought the son of Headwater as a yearling when he was in a training partnership with the Gold Coast's Ryan Tyrell and decided to leave him there when he made the move to Bowen.

“He’s a nice horse and he was one of a few horses like Jemeldi, who I thought could be competitive in Brisbane, so I left him with Ryan,” Button said.

“I really like him and he’s one of the better horses in our stable along with Jemeldi who is a Group 2 placegetter in Sydney.

“Jemeldi is now back with me in Bowen and he won in Townsville last month.”

Button has 20 horses in work at Bowen and rates Head Honcho as the best of his Townsville starters.

Head Honcho has started six times in North Queensland for three wins and two placings and is coming off a victory against his own age in Townsville on November 17.

Button believes Head Honcho has benefited from race experience after being headstrong early on in his career.

“He used to get to the front and stargaze but that’s only experience,” Button said.

“He’s a nice horse but he’s got a few tricks.

“He’s going to be really good going forward.”

Head Honcho faces stiff opposition in the Class 3 Plate spearheaded by the Roy Chillemi duo of Yamabushi and The Wallet.

Yamabushi has had a win and four placings from his past five starts and is coming off a last start second in a 1000 metre Benchmark 60 race at Atherton last Saturday.

The Wallet broke through for his second win at Innisfail earlier this month before placing in a 1000 metre Benchmark race at Townsville on November 17.

Meanwhile, Button will make a late call whether to start promising mare Cinque Terre in the Benchmark 70 Handicap over 1609 metres.

A four-year-old daughter of Harry Angel, Cinque Terre has been a revelation in North Queensland since being moved on from the James Cummings stables in Sydney and Melbourne.

Cinque Terre was a cheap online buy after she broke her maiden status at Kyneton in April.

“We bought her for less than $20,000 off Darley after she won at Kyneton,” Button said.

“She’s a progressive mare who hasn’t had many starts. She’s still only a Class 3 so I’ll take her through her grades up here and see where she ends up.”