Gippsland: Collie, 88, a winner with Wonder
By Damien Donohue, July 18, 2018 - 7:50 AM

There’s no better sight in racing than watching a champion winning, whether it be Winx, Black Caviar or Chautauqua. Not far behind is witnessing good people win races, like at Sale last Thursday when popular local trainer Colin “Collie” Butcher saluted with Chilean Wonder.
The highly respected Butcher, who recently turned 88, has been the oldest Victorian trainer to have runners in the past two seasons. The victory by Chilean Wonder in the GBG Concrete & Construction BM64 Handicap (1732 metres) was his first win in 26 starts for the octogenarian.
Chilean Wonder was cleverly ridden by Caulfield apprentice Teodore Nugent, who made full use of an inside draw, taking a sit behind Albert’s Lass then pushing through against the rail at the 700-metre mark to make the race a true staying test. 
Chilean Wonder is very one-paced galloper, lacking a turn of foot, but the chasers had their chance. Chilean Wonder was too strong, having a length to spare on the line from Nangawooka and the fast-finishing Rubme.
Chilean Wonder, who now has two wins from 39 starts, was bought as a yearling for $50,000 by First Light Racing, Paul Willetts and Ellerton Zahra Racing at the 2014 Inglis Premier sale. 
The chestnut Host gelding is from Encosta de Lago mare Soorena, making him a half-brother to Group 1 winner The Quarterback (by Street Boss). 
Chilean Wonder joined the Butcher stable from Flemington-based Mathew Ellerton and Simon Zahra in late 2016, after Butcher’s grandson Brent paid $8000 for the gelding off an auction website. 
While Thursday’s victory was his first for the Butcher family, the consistent gelding has been placed several times and amassed almost $35,000 for his current connections.
Butcher’s passion for racing was fuelled while he was working as a sharefarmer for then prominent Bairnsdale trainer Jim Counihan, combining milking cows with riding horses around the farm. 
Butcher has been a licensed trainer since 1948 — a remarkable 70 years. In the early days, he also rode as a picnic jockey, once riding three winners in a day at Sale.
Having scaled down in recent years, Butcher still trains a small team (currently three) from his Special Park training property, near Maffra, his home for more than 30 years. 
He’s accompanied to trackwork and racing engagements by one of his trusty lieutenants, son Geoff or grandson Brent. Margot, his wife of 61 years, is never far away. 
These days, Butcher trains tried horses discarded by higher-profile trainers, but that hasn’t always been the case. 
He bred and broke in 1957 Moe Cup winner Lasswood Lad, while another home-bred in Special Cheque was his most successful galloper — a winner of 14 races and Gippsland Horse of the Year in 1992. 
Red Mariner is Butcher’s only metropolitan winner, victorious in 1998 at Sandown when ridden by a young Lucas Dowson.
Chilean Wonder will run at Moe on Saturday in 0-58 company over 2400 metres.
Black-booker
The Peter Gelagotis-trained import Call Me Handsome is low flying.  Luckless in both runs this preparation, he is ready to win and has the capability to add a nice race to his curriculum vitae before the year’s end. 

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