Allan Hughes has conquered just about every provincial cup in Western Australia, but the elusive Geraldton Cup has remained out of reach — until now, perhaps. This Sunday, the seasoned trainer is hoping his mare Butterflyrock can finally deliver hometown glory.
The Galah-sired stayer has been a revelation this campaign, stringing together four consecutive wins and never finishing worse than third since October. Her form surge has Hughes more confident than ever heading into the $125,000 Geraldton Cup.
“I’ve won every cup in the mid-west, but this is the only one I haven’t won,” Hughes said to Racing WA.
“I won the Meekatharra Cup, Mount Magnet, Yalgoo, Mingenew, Dongara, Northampton, Walkaway.
I’ve won the lot of them, but never, ever the Geraldton Cup. I think I’ve only ever had one horse in it years ago.
I’ve never had a stayer good enough, but everything is falling into place, all the planets are aligning.
She’s doing it effortlessly and it’s a sign of a good horse.
I’ve got a bit of a soft spot for her.”
Butterflyrock has been part of the Hughes stable since 2022, but it’s only this preparation that she’s truly hit her stride. Initially slow to adapt, the mare has developed into a genuine contender.
“The penny just dropped,” Hughes said.
“She wanted to be a racehorse.
She’s learnt what it’s all about.
She’s matured into a lovely racehorse.”
Madi Derrick, who was aboard for one of Butterflyrock’s recent wins, retakes the reins from Natasha Faithfull, who is engaged to ride Manavendra.
From barrier five, Hughes expects his mare to be right in the thick of it early.
“We’re drawn five and I would like to be in the first four or five,” Hughes said.
“If she comes out quick, she sits behind the leader which will be really good.
That will give us a cart into the race, and we take it from there.”
Although he’s keeping a level head, Hughes is quietly optimistic that Sunday could finally be his moment.
“I’m one of those blokes that never count their chickens before they hatch,” Hughes said.
“But she’s really well, she’s working the joint down, she’s eating the bin out, she’s going to give them something to catch, anyhow.
Whatever beats her will be sleeping well that night.”
