Muramasa going for four straight in the G2 Zipping Classic
Trent Busuttin and Natalie Young have set Muramasa one more task before he can have some down time ahead of an autumn campaign.
The Group 2 Zipping Classic (2400m) at Caulfield on Saturday is on the radar for the training partnership which could lead the gelding to Group 1 contests in the autumn.
Muramasa is unbeaten in three starts this campaign, culminating in the Group 3 Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2600m) at Flemington on November 11.
Young said Muramasa had risen to each task they had set for Muramasa, but realise he needs to lift the bar again on Saturday.
She said the only plan they had for Muramasa when he started his campaign was to try and win first-up in a benchmark 78 over 1630m at Flemington.
Muramasa duly completed that task and has since gone on to win the Group 3 Coongy Cup (2000m) at Caulfield ahead of the Queen Elizabeth Stakes.
“He won that race first-up which got his rating up and then we made plan from there,” Young said.
“He was dominant on Champions Day in the Queen Elizabeth, and he got home, he ate up, he’s trained on brilliantly and galloped as strongly since as he had done leading into the Queen Elizabeth.
“On his work, I think he can win, but it is a step up in grade and he has come up in grade very quickly, so if he runs below par, we can give him a bit of a freshen up as we have a nice horse that we can aim towards the Ranvet and the Tancred Stakes in the autumn.”
Young said she had always held the horse in high regard and wanted to run him in the Group 1 Caulfield Guineas last year, for which he was an emergency.
Having missed that run, Muramasa went to Caulfield to finish second in the Group 3 Caulfield Classic (2000m) before running fifth in the Group 1 Victoria Derby (2500m) at Flemington.
After three runs as an autumn three-year-old, Muramasa required tieback throat surgery which can be hit-and-miss, but luckily for Busuttin and Young was hugely successful.
“I always thought he had good ability, but he was running on 80 per cent airway before that tieback, which obviously worked,” Young said.
More Racing News
War Machine to target the 2026 Australia Stakes
Top-class sprinter War Machine will resume in the Group 2 Australia Stakes (1200m) at Pakenham on Friday night as connections eye a strong autumn campaign. The race, traditionally held at Moonee Valley, has been moved due to redevelopment works and shapes as an ideal launchpad for the Lindsay Park galloper. War Machine...
2026 Golden Slipper Stakes favourite Incognito nearing return to the races
The absence of Incognito from the Magic Millions 2YO Classic did little to dent his standing in Golden Slipper markets, with the colt edging closer to a raceday return. Michael Freedman elected to sidestep the Gold Coast feature with the $1 million purchase, instead opting for a controlled trial as the...
Antino to target 2026 Queen Elizabeth Stakes in the Autumn
A strong trial session at Deagon on Tuesday will be highlighted by the return of Antino as Tony Gollan begins plotting another autumn campaign for the talented gelding. Antino has not raced since his disappointing effort in the Group 1 Cox Plate, where he finished last after failing to fire on...
Torque To Be Sure breaks maiden in 2026 Magic Millions Guineas, survives protest
Torque To Be Sure finally lived up to his promise with a breakthrough victory in the $3 million Magic Millions 3yo Guineas, though his success came with a nervous wait in the stewards’ room. The Matthew Dunn-trained gelding drifted under pressure in the closing stages, bumping race favourite Ninja as the...
Unit Five powers home in the 2026 Magic Millions Classic
Unit Five announced himself as a rising star with a powerful victory in the $3 million Magic Millions 2YO Classic, overcoming far more seasoned rivals despite limited race experience. The Ciaron Maher-trained colt, ridden confidently by Thomas Stockdale, held off Tornado Valley by a length, with By Choice finishing just behind...
Future History too strong in the 2026 January Cup
Future History showed his class and toughness when landing the $200,000 Listed January Cup at Rosehill, giving Ciaron Maher another feature race success. The eight-year-old almost didn’t take his place in the race after heavy rain downgraded the track, but connections elected to press on despite concerns about the conditions. Ridden positively...
Mile no issue for Merrigold in 2026 Vobis Gold Distaff
Trainer John Sadler admitted a touch of stubbornness delayed Merrigold’s step up to 1600 metres, but the mare made him look wise with a dominant Flemington victory. The five-year-old was having her first start beyond 1400 metres and handled the rise in distance with ease when taking out the Vobis Gold...
Big Sky surges into 2026 Blue Diamond Stakes calculations
Big Sky’s dominant debut at Flemington has propelled him straight into calculations for the Group 1 Blue Diamond Stakes (1200m), giving Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr the top two runners in early betting. The Bivouac colt overcame a wide draw in the TAB We’re On (1000m), travelling strongly under Jordan...
Golden Slipper Stakes 2026 plans for Godolphin’s Outspan
The Godolphin-trained Outspan has thrust himself into Golden Slipper calculations after a commanding win at Rosehill on Saturday. After settling just behind the speed in the 1100m contest, the Michael Freedman-trained colt finished strongly to defeat Long Throw ($15) by 1-1/2 lengths, with Miss Chanel ($4.60) another half-length back. The performance marked...
Mile test for Harry’s Yacht in 2026 Vobis Gold Reef
Will Larkin is confident the timing is right to test Harry’s Yacht over the mile when the gelding contests Saturday’s Vobis Gold Reef at Flemington. The four-year-old has enjoyed a strong preparation to date, registering two wins at benchmark level and adding two placings in Vobis races over 1200 metres. Training in...