Butler is a Group 2 winner earlier in his career back in NSW while Barnes’ best chance to break through was when he was beaten a head in the NSW Breeders challenge on a $100 shot.
If not for the horror draw of 11 for Saturday night, Barnes was more than optimistic that Jeradas Delight was a big chance against the star power of Amazing Dream, Spellbound and Fame Assured, who she ran second to just last week.
“She ran really good the other night, obviously the draw is not kind for her this weekend but she is quality mare,” Barnes said.
“She has got great speed and she follows speed all day, we just have to hope for a little bit of luck and tempo in the race this week.
“She is a pretty easy going sort of a mare and does whatever you want her to do, she is easy to have around.
“There are some good quality mares in the race and there is going to be speed, maybe not as much as last week, but hopefully there is enough early on and we can get a good cart up.
“I think she is up to Group 1 level but she is the type of mare that needs everything to go her way.”
The Bettors Delight mare has recorded two victories and a number of minor placings so far in 2021 and Butler feels the consistent racing put into Jeradas Delight, on top of one solid hit out at his property every Wednesday, has his mare thriving of late.
While disappointed with the gate for Saturday night, Butler says his mare is on top of her game after running home in a sharp time last start.
“A big thing for her is just keeping her in a routine, which we have done for the last six weeks,” Butler said.
“She has hit her straps at the right time and we could not be happier with how she is at the moment.”
The pacer is owned by Sydneysider Ray Cahill, who would have liked to be in Brisbane this week for the Group 1, if not for the lockdown the city is experiencing.
Cahill and the mare's previous trainer felt she lacked the gate speed for racing at Menangle but has gone to another level since relocating north.
The Golden Girl, an all-new Group 1 for fillies and mares, is an exciting new addition to the carnival, according to the veteran trainer, on the back of last week’s first ever The Rising Sun.
“It is a great concept; Racing Queensland, Brad and Scott Steele and David Brick, all the work they have done to get these races of the ground has been massive,” Butler said.
“It has been unbelievable the carnival.
“In the six or seven years I have been up here, the turnaround I have seen over the last couple of years has been unbelievable, that is just harness racing in general.
“It is a great concept and we are excited to be involved in it.”
Stablemate Dangerzone heads to the Group 1 for two-year-olds next Saturday night following this week’s run.
The TAB Queensland Constellations culminates in late July with the final night of the carnival featuring an incredible six Group 1s, with the Queensland Derby and Oaks, the Triad Finals and the Queensland Trotters Cup supporting the TAB Blacks A Fake.