The planning and build-up for an Australian Derby campaign takes months and in the space of a few short minutes it all came crashing down on Tuesday for the training team of Trent Busuttin and Natalie Young.
Busuttin and Young got three of their string into the field for Australasia’s biggest blue-riband but luck deserted them during the all-important barrier draw on Tuesday.
Within five minutes the stable’s three runners Salsamor, Belfast and Main Stage draw barriers 19, 17 and 12 respectively.
“It hurt,” Busuttin said “I couldn’t believe all three of them drew so badly.
“In the space of a few minutes I went from being optimistic to being crushed. It’s just so disappointing.
“No matter which way you look at it, it’s made the task so much harder to win the race.
“I think they are such an even bunch of three-year-olds this year with probably only two to three lengths splitting the top ones.
"So to win races like this you need everything to go your way.
“At some stage our horses are going to be working to put themselves into a position, whether that be at the start of the race or working overtime for the 1000.
“I don’t know this is the year any horse can afford to be doing that. We’re already on the back foot.”
Despite his disappointment, Busuttin, the 2016 Australian Derby-winning trainer, has one key factor on his side heading into Saturday’s contest.
“I’ve got three champion jockeys, Zac Purton (Salsamor), Kerrin McEvoy (Belfast) and Blake Shinn (Main Stage),” he said.
“To win I’d say one is going to need a masterful ride so we’re a chance with riders like that in the saddle.
“Another plus is we’ve got three chances to overcome bad draws. Maybe one will have some luck?
“One out of three would do, I’d take that.”
Busuttin and Young’s team come to the Derby table with different form references.
Salsamor acquitted himself well when fourth against the older horses in the Gr.3 Sky High Stakes last start, Belfast produced a fast-finishing fifth in the Gr.2 Tulloch Stakes last Saturday while Main Stage disappointed when down the track in the Gr.1 Rosehill Guineas.
“Our horses are all presenting well,” Busuttin said.
“I was pretty confident going into this week with Belfast off last week’s run and I thought Salsamor was a genuine chance in the race.
“I was rapt with how he ran against the older horses in the Sky High. He was badly in at the weights there but he’s not a back-up horse and I wanted him to have three weeks into the Derby.
“Being honest, Main Stage is out of form and we’re having a throw at the stumps with him.” -racenet.com.au