Latest News

By Ray Hickson

Trainer Richard Butler’s patience with lightly raced gelding Sure Intentions seems to be paying off and he’s given the horse the opportunity to celebrate his birthday in style at Nowra on Sunday.

The five-year-old was foaled on November 2 (in 2020) and the Greenwell Point Hotel Town Plate (1400m) falls on that foaling date so a win would be fitting.

Butler, who only trains two horses at the moment, said it didn’t surprise him that it took some time for Sure Intentions to find some consistency and feels he’s back better than ever.

A first-up third in a Benchmark 66 on his home track two weeks ago was an encouraging sign to that end.

“He was always going to be a horse that would mature late, he was a late foal and mentally I believe he’s still learning his trade,’’ Butler said.

Richard Butler (right) with Sure Intentions (Pic: Lance Fearne).

“It was a race I hadn’t initially planned to be running in. I wanted to run at Nowra but the only available race was the Benchmark 66 and it was a bit out of his grade.

“But because of the way he worked the Tuesday before the race I put him in as a late nomination.

“He seemed to have come back better than last prep and I thought I might as well give him a run because we didn’t have to travel so far.”

Sure Intentions hasn’t missed a place in five runs in 2025 to date and Butler said the horse has formed a strong association with apprentice Emma Ly, who rides him again on Sunday.

They paired up for the first time in his maiden win at Orange and were successful again at Queanbeyan before a spell.

“They’ve gelled as a good team really, the horse and jockey,’’ he said.

“I’d had an association with Emma Ly and got her back to ride him. She’s got to know and understand how I train horses and when I ask her to do certain things in a race she’s clear on what I mean.”

Butler is hoping Nowra dries out through the weekend as a wet track is akin to kryptonite for Sure Intentions though he does seem to be gaining some immunity.

That’s based on how he’s been working on the track this week, so the trainer hopes that and his form is a sign the horse’s confidence is growing.

“He worked on a soft 7 this week and I was comfortable with how he felt but I wouldn’t want it any wetter,’’ he said.

“If things don’t pan out as we’d like them to I’d say the track was too soft for him. If he puts in a good showing I believe he could be competitive in Highway class.

“I thought we’d keep him in his own grade and make it a bit easier for him and build some more confidence.”

Thought Butler only trains two horses at present he’s pre-training a couple for Robert and Luke Price and is also working for the Department Of Education.

His role assisting children at risk and those who need more attention, as something of a mentor, at Bomaderry High School is something he finds rewarding.

All the fields, form and replays for Sunday's Nowra meeting