25-year-old Ashley Butler has secured the ride on Rockhampton flyer Conca Del Sogno in this Saturday’s Magic Millions Country Cup at the Gold Coast. Conca Del Sogno’s 2nd placing in his last start in Rockhampton has triggered a change in jockey for Tim Cook, after his winning streak of 7 was broken when finishing 0.3L off Miss Anna on the 30th of December.
Butler has enjoyed outstanding form as of late, primarily in Queensland provincials where he rode 50 winners in 2017 at 23.8%, the 2nd best in all of Queensland with more then 40 rides for the year. Currently ranked 22 in the state, he has 21 winners to his name already in season 2017-18, placing at 54.3%, being in the money in more then half of his rides.
At just 25 years of age, Ashley Butler has unquestionable racing potential, consistently showing off his talent in the saddle, however if not for his stature, his athletic ability could have gone a different way. Once upon a time, NRL club Wests Tigers had their eye on the crafty half back, before being released from their development program because of his size.
Speaking to JustHorseRacing, Butler told of his early career when a promising star was uncovered.
“I started my apprenticeship here in Rocky, then went back to Mackay to Stewy (Stuart) Kendrick”
“I then went to the Gold Coast, then finished my apprenticeship in Brisbane with Johnny, Chris and Dan Meagher”
With thoroughbred racing in the family, the opportunity presented itself to Butler after his potential Rugby League career came to a crossroads.
“A that time, my dad owned horses in Mackay with Lyle Wright. It was time for a new sport and racing it was”
Finding himself riding in Gold Coast Turf Club’s day of days, Butler is no stranger to big occasions. The gun jock was presented an opportunity in 2013 by John, Chris and Dan Meagher to go to Melbourne for his first ride at group level.
The then 21-year-old was booked in for the ride on $19 shot Startsmeup in the Group 3 Weekend Hussler Stakes at Caulfield, coming up against the likes of Luke Currie, Kerrin McEvoy, Dwayne Dunn, Dean Yendall and now Sha Tin star Brett Prebble.
“It was definitely the biggest race I’ve rode in so far,” he said.
“It was a little intimidating sitting in the jockeys rooms with all the big name jockeys, but once I got out there I was all good and stuck to my guns.”
Butler will this again Saturday take his place riding alongside the best in the business when the Magic Millions heats up. Speaking of the massive occasion, he was very excited to be apart of the carnival.
“I think Magic Millions is an amazing day, it brings all the big-name jockeys and big name trainers together and for someone like me to go down there and ride it’s pretty exciting”
Race 2 of the Magic Millions day features premier jockeys such as Blake Shinn, Regan Bayliss, Damien Oliver, Jamie Kah and Brenton Avdulla, as well as Butler’s good friend Jimmy Byrne, and racing idol and world’s best Hugh Bowman. Ashley Butlers name will be listed alongside the biggest names there is on the race card, and with a big chance of winning the race, he still admits he enjoys watching them ride.
“As a young boy starting off riding I always looked up to Hugh Bowman, and I still do.”
“But when I moved (to Brisbane) myself and Jimmy Byrne became really close and really good friends. Jimmy helped me a lot with my riding, and not only my riding he helped me in life as well” he said of the champion Brisbane jockey.
“Still to this day we are really good friends and I really enjoy watching him ride.”
Conca Del Sogno is currently $11 fixed with the TAB to win the Magic Millions Country Cup however his form suggests he is one of the main chances after the colossal winning streak last preparation, perhaps unlucky not to make it 8 last time out. Strung up for room, he was 6th at the turn before running on for 2nd however things could easily have gone a different way with a bit of luck. He is drawn ideally from barrier 6 and Butler believes he is a very good chance.
“I think there is enough speed in the race that he will get back a little, hopefully get a soft run and get on the back of a horse going forward from the 600m and get him to the outside and hope that he shows a turn of foot that we all know he has.”
Should Butler perform this weekend, he will be earmarked as a big watch down south for the future, however following the retirement of Adrian Coombe, the door is now open for him to cement himself as the best around Rockhampton and Mackay, declaring he is content with his current form.
“At the moment I’m just happy with the way I’m riding and the way everything is going,”
“I’m getting good rides and feel really good on them, hopefully this year I might be able to win one of the over carnival time.”
With most likely his best days of riding ahead of him, Ashley Butler believes he may one day give it another crack in Brisbane, stating his major hurdle is an ongoing battle with his weight.
“As everyone knows, I struggle a bit with me weight,” he conceded.
“A dream would be getting my weight back down and head back down to Brisbane for another go.”
Already with one of the best strike rates in the country, Butler is rarely out of the money and is certainly a jockey to follow. Primarily riding for Ricky Vale, Butler has also been placed in 9 out of 17 rides for the Tim Cook stable in the last 12 months as they look to combine for their 5th win in 18 starts since January 2017.
