Button searching for first winner from new Canungra stable

By Glenn Davis

Trainer Tom Button will be chasing his first winner from his new Canungra training base in the Gold Coast hinterland when Jemeldi tackles the Listed Dalrello Stakes at Eagle Farm on Saturday.

Jemeldi - a Brad Stewart mount – stamped his class when Button sent him to Sydney on a Golden Slipper campaign during the autumn.

The son of Winning Rupert produced a courageous performance, finishing a close third to Promitto in the Group 2 Skyline Stakes on a heavy Randwick track in late February.

However, Button decided not to proceed to the Golden Slipper, preferring to concentrate on the TAB Queensland Racing Carnival.

Button was a successful trainer and former jockey in Central Queensland before moving to the Sunshine Coast just over two years ago. 

He grabbed the opportunity to train at Canungra when one of his clients, Sandy Bowman, bought Fenwick Farm, formerly Wadham Park.

“It’s a good place to train from as it’s only about an hour to most tracks and a bit over an hour to Caloundra,” Button said.

“The complex has 80 boxes and I’ve got 40 filled so far.

“It’s also got a swimming pool, aqua walker and grass and sand training tracks.”

Button believes Jemeldi is ready to go for his first-up assignment but is yet to determine a winter program.

“He’ll run in the Dalrello then the Spirit Of Boom over 1200 metres on Doomben 10,00 day,” he said.

“I’m concentrating on these races first before deciding where to go.

“I’m not sure whether he’ll get 1400 metres so I’ll reassess it after these two runs.”

Jemeldi only had a short break after the Skyline Stakes and barrier trialled at Deagon two weeks ago.

“He only had a short break after the Skyline but he trialled well at Deagon and went through his gears well,” he said.

“He’ll take a lot of improvement after this run.”

Jemeldi was Button’s first Sydney starter and he had no regrets bypassing the Golden Slipper.

“He likes to get rolling and can over race a bit so I think 1200 metres will pull him up at this stage,” Button said.

“He’s ready to go first-up and I think he’ll be hard to beat.”