Racing
RQ Country Cups Challenge qualifier preview
Trainer Tom Button could face a major dilemma if talented north Queensland sprinter Under The Limit claims the Country Cups Challenge Qualifier at Ingham on Saturday.
Under The Limit is already qualified for the Country Stampede Final at Doomben next month and an Ingham win would also see him book a spot in the Country Cups Challenge Final.Both finals will be run on the same day at Doomben on December 6.
Under The Limit qualified for the Country Stampede Final with his victory at Innisfail on October 15 and could be joined in his Ingham assignment with stablemate Northern Pride.
"Under The Limit's last win was very good and if he wins at Ingham, he'll be qualified for both the country features at Doomben," Button said.
"If he qualifies for both I don't know what to do.
"He has to win first but I'm not sure if I can accept in both the Stampede and Country Cups Challenge finals," he said.
Button's dilemma is the distances of both features.
"The Stampede Final is probably 100 metres too short for him and the Cups Final over 1600 metres is about 100 metres too long," he said.
"I'm not locked in to the Country Cups final just yet but he is in the Stampede.
"I don't recall having a starter before in the Stampede while I've had a few in the Country Cups final.
"If he qualifies for the Cup race the bigger prizemoney might come into it as to which race he runs in."
The Country Cups Challenge Final carries a $200,000 in prizemoney while the Country Stampede is worth $105,000.
Button will make a late call whether Northern Pride will start at Ingham.
"I'm reluctant to start him if the track is hard but they're tipping some rain so I'll wait as long as possible before deciding if he runs," he said.
Button may make another bid for the Magic Millions Country Cup at the Gold Coast in January with Northern Pride who won last year's Cleveland Bay Handicap in Townsville.
But first Northern Pride will need to continue his consistent form in north Queensland.
Northern Pride was sent to Deagon trainer Darren Bell for the Magic Millions Country Cup in January this year and wasn't disgraced finishing a brave sixth to the David Vandyke-trained Slippin' Jimmy.
"We transferred him to Darren for his Brisbane campaign last summer but he wasn't quite up to them," Button said.
"He might head that way again as he's in good form at the moment and it'll depend how he's going closer to the time."
Northern Pride has returned to his best winning two of his past three starts and is coming off a last start winning a 1400-metre Open at Townsville on October 21.
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