Trent Busuttin and Natalie Young
Darryl Sherer
On Saturday former Cambridge trainers Trent Busuttin and Natalie Young will be chasing one Derby and preparing for another across the Tasman.
Young is in New Zealand with Rising Red, who will be the sole Australian-trained runner when he represents the couple's Cranbourne stable in the Gr.1 $1 million Vodafone New Zealand Derby, while back home Busuttin is putting the finishing touches on Anaheim, the stable's runner in the Gr.1 A$750,000 Australian Guineas (1600m) at Flemington.
Anaheim, a son of Fastnet Rock, was a Listed winner over 1800m at the Melbourne Cup Carnival and finished third fresh-up over 1400m at Sandown. He is on a path to the Gr.1 A$2 million ATC Derby (2400m), which Busuttin and Young won so dominantly last year with Tavago.
"Anaheim is an outsider on Saturday but he should run well," Busuttin said. "He should be in the top six. He'll then go to the Rosehill Guineas and, hopefully, onto the Derby. He'll be better when he gets up to the 2000 at Rosehill."
Busuttin and Young also have a Victoria Derby on their CVs, having won it in 2011 with Sangster, but they haven't had much luck in the New Zealand Derby with their five runners. Last year they saddled up two starters and finished sixth (Tavago) and seventh (Predator).
Busuttin's best result is a fifth with Six O'Clock News in 2008 when training in partnership with his father, Paddy.
"We're hoping our luck changes this year, but the wide draw (17) has put a dampener on things," Busuttin said.
"We were also hoping for a wet track to take some of the others out of it. He doesn't have real class, but he'll go the mile and a half (2400m) and most of them won't get it."
Rising Red, a son of Redwood, went with Busuttin and Young when they shifted to Cranbourne last year. He had one trial in New Zealand, at Te Teko when a close second, and in eight Australian starts he has recorded two wins and four placings.
His maiden win was on a heavy track over 1620 metres last November and he followed up with three seconds before scoring over 2100m at Sandown on February 22.
It was after that race Michael Dee's agent contacted Busuttin inquiring about the New Zealand Derby ride for the former Kiwi apprentice.
"Mick Dee has ridden a few winners for us and I'm happy to have him on," said Busuttin.
"The draw has made it a bit more difficult for him. He'll probably have to go back in midfield, but it will depend on how he jumps.
"The horse is pretty tractable. He led once and has come from the back. He box-seated from barrier one last time."
Busuttin and Young have made an impact from their Cranbourne stable with Garrard's win last Tuesday being their 25th success of the season, placing them 14th equal on the Victorian Trainers' Premiership. Of the top 20 Victorian-based trainers, they share the top spot on strike rate with Michael, Wayne and John Hawkes (20.30%).
"We've got 50 boxes and they're all full," Busuttin said. "The (Cranbourne) club is building another 25 for us.
"We've had a great start and we've got some really nice horses coming through.
"It would be great to kick another goal or two at the big carnival in Sydney. Tavago is going for the Sydney Cup and he went enormous the other day.
"It would be great to get the New Zealand Derby, too, especially now that it's up to a million dollars." – NZ Racing Desk
Young is in New Zealand with Rising Red, who will be the sole Australian-trained runner when he represents the couple's Cranbourne stable in the Gr.1 $1 million Vodafone New Zealand Derby, while back home Busuttin is putting the finishing touches on Anaheim, the stable's runner in the Gr.1 A$750,000 Australian Guineas (1600m) at Flemington.
Anaheim, a son of Fastnet Rock, was a Listed winner over 1800m at the Melbourne Cup Carnival and finished third fresh-up over 1400m at Sandown. He is on a path to the Gr.1 A$2 million ATC Derby (2400m), which Busuttin and Young won so dominantly last year with Tavago.
"Anaheim is an outsider on Saturday but he should run well," Busuttin said. "He should be in the top six. He'll then go to the Rosehill Guineas and, hopefully, onto the Derby. He'll be better when he gets up to the 2000 at Rosehill."
Busuttin and Young also have a Victoria Derby on their CVs, having won it in 2011 with Sangster, but they haven't had much luck in the New Zealand Derby with their five runners. Last year they saddled up two starters and finished sixth (Tavago) and seventh (Predator).
Busuttin's best result is a fifth with Six O'Clock News in 2008 when training in partnership with his father, Paddy.
"We're hoping our luck changes this year, but the wide draw (17) has put a dampener on things," Busuttin said.
"We were also hoping for a wet track to take some of the others out of it. He doesn't have real class, but he'll go the mile and a half (2400m) and most of them won't get it."
Rising Red, a son of Redwood, went with Busuttin and Young when they shifted to Cranbourne last year. He had one trial in New Zealand, at Te Teko when a close second, and in eight Australian starts he has recorded two wins and four placings.
His maiden win was on a heavy track over 1620 metres last November and he followed up with three seconds before scoring over 2100m at Sandown on February 22.
It was after that race Michael Dee's agent contacted Busuttin inquiring about the New Zealand Derby ride for the former Kiwi apprentice.
"Mick Dee has ridden a few winners for us and I'm happy to have him on," said Busuttin.
"The draw has made it a bit more difficult for him. He'll probably have to go back in midfield, but it will depend on how he jumps.
"The horse is pretty tractable. He led once and has come from the back. He box-seated from barrier one last time."
Busuttin and Young have made an impact from their Cranbourne stable with Garrard's win last Tuesday being their 25th success of the season, placing them 14th equal on the Victorian Trainers' Premiership. Of the top 20 Victorian-based trainers, they share the top spot on strike rate with Michael, Wayne and John Hawkes (20.30%).
"We've got 50 boxes and they're all full," Busuttin said. "The (Cranbourne) club is building another 25 for us.
"We've had a great start and we've got some really nice horses coming through.
"It would be great to kick another goal or two at the big carnival in Sydney. Tavago is going for the Sydney Cup and he went enormous the other day.
"It would be great to get the New Zealand Derby, too, especially now that it's up to a million dollars." – NZ Racing Desk
