Parsons flies to career high with Kendys Butterfly

There have been plenty of sporting highlights in the life of Parwan trainer Paul Parsons – but he says victory in the Ecycle Solutions Stawell Pacing Cup (Dec 1) with his bold mare Kendys Butterfly (Bettors Delight) is undisputedly top of the tree.

“This is number one in harness racing – it’s number one in my journey as a sportsman, ahead of football premierships, best and fairests, even a Western Bulldogs flag a few years ago – this is it!” an elated Parsons said after the race.

“I have been dying to win a handy race with this horse, so this has made my day. Made my year, actually,” he said.

Kendy’s Butterfly undoubtedly was the beneficiary of a red-hot race tempo set by leader (and eventual runner-up) Banksofthemurray (Matt Craven) and Rudy Gee (Michael Stanley) in the death seat.

Jackie Barker settled four back on the pegs with Kendys Butterfly, and put the six-year-old mare to sleep, managing to find an out to trail up on the home corner.

Barker peeled wide at the top of the straight and Kendy’s Butterfly had the fresh legs, grabbing a stoic Banksofthemurray in the shadows of the post.

The victory was the 14th for Kendys Butterfly and the 39th for Parsons, but it was the one the 55-year-old had been yearning – his first Metropolitan level victory.

“Benstud has first option on her for breeding and I told them I really wanted to win $100K with her, which she did earlier in the season, and I wanted to win an MO with her,” Parsons said.

“Along the way I haven’t really been very fair on her because for the past 18 months I’ve been nominating her well out of her class, but I’d never won a metro grade race and I thought she could,” he said.

Parsons, who trains from Jaime Madruga’s property at Parwan, said he wasn’t sure Kendys Butterfly would even be a racing prospect when she arrived two and a half years ago.

“I bought her in a package deal with Our Bella Lucia and another horse and she had a bad leg when she turned up,” he said.

“I was told if she didn’t go to surgery she would probably never race again so I put her in the paddock for four months. Then I got another opinion, and Adam Matthews the vet has done a lot of work on this girl. He’s been fantastic and I am very grateful to him.

“Also to Jaime, I’m at his property every day, it’s great fun and I just love it. And to Jackie – her drive was brilliant.”

Jackie Barker said after Kendys Butterfly’s heat win at Cranbourne, she was quietly confident given the right luck.

“I really like this little mare. We’ve had some fun times and she’s a good little opportunist if she gets the right run – and it did all just pan out for her today. She is a ripping little horse and it’s great to get that nice win on the board for her,” she said.

The Wimmera Mallee Vets Stawell Trotters Cup, by contrast, was a one-act affair for diminutive five-year-old mare Wish Upona Dream (Wishing Stone), her driver Michael Bellman and trainer Rebecca Morrissey.

Wish Upona Dream put her head down and burnt out of the standing start, clearing out by 15 metres with Robin Me Mate. But when Robin Me Mate galloped soon after, Bellman was left clear in front, peeling out to a 40-50 metre margin in the early stages.

“She is more tough than she is fast – it wasn’t the plan (to run hard in front) but once we landed there, I thought I was going to make it hard for them to catch me,” a thrilled Bellman, who has trained the mare for several stints, said.

“Manners win races, and she has great manners. She’s a bloody ripper. There’s not enough words you can say about how hard she tries and how good she is,” he said.

Wish Upona Dream eventually won by 17 metres from Suga Daddy (Connor Clarke) and Love Ya Brother (Matthew Craven).

View the results and race replays from Stawell Cup Day, click here

by Terry Gange, for Harnesslink