A rise to 1600 metres did the trick for Butchoy last Saturday as the Mudgee gelding claimed a TAB Highway Handicap at his third attempt.
Hugh Bowman got the job done on the Mack Griffith-trained four-year-old, who’d run fifth over 1400 metres under Kerrin McEvoy and fifth over 1500 metres under Tim Clark in his previous Highway runs.
Last Saturday the $8 chance relished the extra distance, finishing the race off strongly to win the Class 3 by a length and a half from Cisco Bay. 
From barrier seven, Bowman soon had the gelding just behind the leader, Wallander, on the fence. From there, it was just a matter of waiting and hoping the run would come. 
When Wallander rolled off the fence under pressure, Butchoy was able to sprint through the gap to score a convincing win. 
“He didn’t have luck at his two (previous) Highway runs. He got shuffled back the first time then was three wide the trip the next but today he showed what he’s got,” Griffith told media. 
Having Bowman’s services didn’t harm the horse’s chances, as the trainer was quick to acknowledge. 
“He rode him a treat,” he said. “The horse has always shown plenty of ability but isn’t quite there yet mentally. 
“The penny might have dropped with him today though because when the gap came he sprinted very well.” 
Bowman said patience had been vital to Butchoy’s win.
“I got where I wanted to be but at the 600 I knew I wasn’t going to be getting out so I just waited,” he said. 
“He settled well and he sprinted well. He’s the sort of horse that lacks a bit of confidence, but there was no pressure on him and he was fine inside them.”
Griffith plans to give Butchoy another crack at a TAB Highway. 
“He’s eligible for another one yet, so if we find the right race we’ll come back,” he said. 
ACT back on Highway
Racing NSW has reversed the decision it made last year to exclude Canberra trainers from TAB Highway races. 
As of September 1, Canberra horses will once again be eligible to contest these races. 
In announcing the decision, RNSW CEO Peter V’landys said: “The Canberra-trained horses will now be eligible for Highway races, with NSW country-trained horses that have a benchmark higher than 50 getting first preference in the rare circumstances that there are more acceptances than the field limit.” 
In explaining the backflip, V’landys said: “The (Canberra) trainers presented a very strong case that action was required to avoid the demise of Canberra’s racing industry. 
“Racing NSW wants to see that racing in Canberra is viable and strong, as many NSW participants compete in Canberra for prizemoney that is paid by the Canberra Racing Club — Racing NSW does not contribute to it.”
 When the ban was originally imposed, the reason given by Racing NSW was that when it comes to the quality of training and other facilities available to them, Canberra-trained horses are the equal of NSW provincial-trained horses, which are also ineligible for Highway races.
That being the case, the question is why Canberra horses were not admitted to the recently announced Provincial Spring Series instead — unless facilities in the national capital have gone backwards in the eight months since the ban was imposed.
Ollie’s Collie Cup
Bathurst mare Art ’n’ Ollie was the big winner at Gilgandra last Saturday, taking the feature Collie Cup (1300m) for trainer Dean Mirfin and jockey Eleanor Webster-Hawes. 
The six-year-old mare, who started favourite, led all the way to score by 1¾ lengths, bringing up back-to-back wins in the process. 
Earlier in the day New York Philly ($3.70), trained by Jenelle Butler and ridden by Josh Oliver, came with a swooping run from back in the field to claim the 1100-metre, benchmark 50. 
Oliver eased the mare up to score by a length and a half and looks to be worth following. 
Three to follow
Other recent winners it should pay to follow include Miss Fabulass and Sunreel, both trained by Kris Lees. 
Miss Fabulass scored well in an 1100-metre maiden at Canterbury, while Sunreel raced away to win a 1500-metre Class 1 at Newcastle by nearly five lengths. 
Keep an eye out too for Queen Ablaze. This mare, trained by the astute Angela Davies, was heavily backed into $1.70 favouritism before recording a comfortable win in an 1100-metre maiden at Gosford. 
Treble to Trev, Trav
At Narrandera on Saturday, trainer Trevor Sutherland and jockey Michael Travers combined to win the final three races on the program. 
Elsewhere last weekend, Sunday’s Taree Cup (2000m) went to the Richard Freedman-trained Shalmaneser ($7), ridden by Andrew Adkins. 
On the same day at Moruya, the South Coast Clubs Cup (1435m) went to Cliff, trained by Joe Cleary and ridden by Jessica Taylor.