Jemeldi to revive fond memories for Button

By Glenn Davis

It was a special thrill for Tom Button when Jemeldi placed at Group 2 level in Sydney as a youngster and now the Bowen trainer hopes to relive those memories on Magic Millions day at the Gold Coast next month.

“I’ll never forget taking Jemeldi to Sydney as he was my first starter down there and it was a real buzz to train her at Randwick,” Button recalled.

“He sat four deep most of the way and it was a very heavy track that day when he was beaten less than three lengths in the (Group 2) Skyline Stakes.”

Button will launch a two-pronged attack with Jemeldi and Under The Limit for the Magic Millions Country Cup qualifier at Townsville on Saturday.

“Hopefully, Jemeldi or Under The Limit can take us to the Gold Coast again for the Magic Millions Country Cup,” Button said.

“Under The Limit won this qualifier last year and went down for the Country Cup but unfortunately, he wasn’t quite up to it.

“He raced well off a bad barrier which probably cost him a few lengths.”

Button leans to Jemeldi as the pick of his pair and hasn’t ruled making the trip south without winning the qualifier at Cluden Park.

“I think Jemeldi could still make the Magic Millions Country Cup as his rating is high enough to get in even without winning a qualifier,” Button said.

“He’s been racing well and it was good to put a few more wins to his name after he won at Townsville at his first run up this way and then last time at Cairns.”

Jemeldi is now a five-year-old having won six times in his 35-start career and has found a new lease of life since moving from the Gold Coast to Button’s Bowen stables.

The son of Winning Rupert blotted his copybook in North Queensland when he finished fifth to Lady Rain in the Townsville Amateur Sprint at Cluden Park in the middle of November.

“He copped an ordinary ride second-up that day but Gabrielle (Semmens) made up for it when she won on him in Cairns last start,” Button said.

“I think 1200 metres is the box he still has to tick as he’s yet to win over the trip.”

Heavyweight rider Ashley Butler will partner Jemeldi for the first time after he received 57.5kgs while Button has named the Stephen Massingham-trained Battle Cry as the main danger.

Battle Cry has been racing consistently with two wins and four seconds from his past six starts including his latest second behind From This Moment in a 1400 metre Open Handicap at Townsville on December 5.