Unlucky horse pushes right Buttons to win after two-year absece It was feared Benny's Buttons (pictured in 2010) would never race again, but he returned to the winner's circle after almost two years off the track. A MIRACLE horse that it was twice feared would never race again got under the guard of punters and started the Queensland Winter Carnival with a bang for Brisbane trainer Kelso Wood. Benny's Buttons has had more problems than a broken down Kombi van but the five-year-old gelding flashed home to win the BRC Dash (1000m) off an incredible spell of 679 days. With no official trials off such a long spell, punters sent it around at $14 but were left licking their wounds when it stormed home over the top of Excellantes to post a head-turning 1/2 neck win. The secret to the extraordinary success was part-owner Michelle Lang-McMahon sending the broken down gelding to the Kolora Lodge spelling and rehabilitation property in the Gold Coast hinterland after it had suffered successive serious leg injuries. "He did a suspensory (ligament) and then on the first gallop back he fractured his split bone in two places," Wood said. Congratulations must go to the owners, who have got the Kolora Lodge property. They spent a lot of time with the horse getting him right. They put the foundation down for his latest training campaign and that is half the secret to his win. Benny's Buttons is the first foal of Stolen Beauty who was a moderate performer with one win from 15 starts, but second dam Gay Performance was a good producer, with her foals including Todman Stakes winner Great Crusader. A strict training regime on a water-walker, and with regular ice on the legs, slowly nursed Benny's Buttons back to health and the proof was in the pudding at Eagle Farm. "He is a good horse and he certainly produced his best," Wood said. We brought him in and put him through the normal training processes, we haven't done anything out of the ordinary with him. In the jumpout the other day he went terrific and we thought we had a genuine chance on raceday. Griffon was an eye-catcher in the race, finishing strongly along the inside for fourth when not getting clear galloping room in the straight. JOCKEYS have tipped the first day of the Queensland Winter Racing Carnival to turn "messy" with a torrential downpour hitting Eagle Farm. The track is currently rated dead but there will almost certainly be a downgrade, especially with more rain on the way. Eddie Wilkinson, who rode winner Vo Heart in race two, said the track was already deteriorating and predicted many winners would come down the outside. JOCKEY Chris Munce opened another door when he teamed up with in-form Brisbane trainer Les Ross for a hair-raising win on Cuddlesome in the 1400m Fillies and Mares Handicap at Eagle Farm. Cuddlesome ($7) just held off a late storming finish from favourite Hidden Kisses ($5) to give the Munce-Ross combination their first win together. Ross has been on fire this season, primarily with his Mishani horses, and said it was highly satisfying to team up with Munce, who recently returned to riding after throat cancer treatment. "Chris has ridden a hell of a lot of winners ... but this was his first one for me," a beaming Ross said. I was hoping the horse hadn't hit the front too early but all is well that ends well. Cuddlesome will now be sent to Sydney with Ross keen to dodge the A-grade mares that are being set for big Queensland Winter Carnival races. Munce was beaming after the win and said he had been looking forward to teaming up with Ross. "She's probably about the only one I've ever ridden for Les, so it is nice to win one for him," Munce said. He has done a good job with her, she is a nice mare and she could win a few decent races.