Cleo's Poet brings Butts out of retirement

By Glenn Davis

Veteran north Queensland trainer Terry Butts will make a rare visit to the State’s south-east, chasing a hat-trick of wins with Cleo’s Poet at Beaudesert on Tuesday.

Butts, who turns 77 next month, retired from training four years ago after a distinguished career in the racing industry.

A former bookmaker and journalist, Butts switched to training in 1993 and has won most of the Cup races in North Queensland including the Bowen, Home Hill, Gordonvale, Ingham, Atherton and Cairns Cup.

He also trained two Cairns Amateur Cup winners as well as two Townsville Amateurs Cups.

“The day Vintage Crop won the Melbourne Cup was my last day as a bookmaker,” Butts said.

Butts started his cadetship as a journalist at the Border Mail in Albury before eventually making his way to Hong Kong where he worked over a long period for four English newspapers.

Among his other achievements, Butts was the first English speaking race caller in Hong Kong.

“I retired from training about four years ago but I got bored so I decided to give it another go,” Butts said.

“I only got this horse as I’ve trained for one of his owners, Bob Pack.”

Cleo’s Poet was formerly trained by Doug Harrison in Victoria before Butts agreed to take him on in April last year.

“He’s a very quiet horse with kids and would lick them to death but in a race he’d charge through the rail,” Butts said.

“He’s no champion but he’s very honest and I only brought him down to spell and to get away from the north Queensland mosquitoes.”

Cleo’s Poet has won his past two starts in Townsville over 1609 metres and has gone up four points to a rating 65 which means he’ll carry topweight of 62.5kgs in the TAB Benchmark 60 Handicap over 1650 metres.

Butts originally hoped Chris Whiteley for make the trip south to ride Cleo’s Poet, who is chasing his seventh win in 52 starts.

“I hoped Chris would ride him but he’s gone away so I’ve booked Ryan Wiggins,” he said.

“His last two wins have been very strong and he’ll competitive although he’s up four points in the ratings.

“He’s a six-year-old and can handle wet tracks but I doubt he’d make a Cups horse in the winter back home.”