Busuttin and Young chase Magic Millions dream at Ballarat
When a Group 1 race is on the line, trainers are invariably on-course to cheer their charge on.
Trent Busuttin and Natalie Young have Forgot You contesting the Group 1 Northerly Stakes (1800m) at Ascot in Perth on Saturday, but Young will be at Ballarat instead.
Busuttin has travelled to Perth while Young looks after the team at Ballarat which includes Vianarra in the Magic Millions Ballarat 2YO Classic (1000m).
Vianarra is owned by a ‘Lady’s Syndicate’ and a win, or second-place finish on Saturday will be enough to earn the colt a trip to the Magic Millions 2YO Classic (1200m) on the Gold Coast next month.
Young expects a number of the ladies to be present at Ballarat on Saturday, hence her decision to stay home and head to the races.
“We’ve drawn 10, but I thought his last run at Ballarat was super,” Young said.
“His last 50 metres, he really hit the line strong.
“He’s a horse that is probably looking for that little bit further, but it’s a nice race to try and get him into the Magic Millions for the lady owners and chase that bonus.
“A win, or running second, gets him in and the pressure is off, then he can have a run that way around.
“There’s a couple of races towards the end of the month and there’s also a race the week before at the Gold Coast, but we’ll get through Saturday first.”
Busuttin and Young have won the past two editions of the Ballarat Magic Millions contest.
Cusack won in 2021 when the race was run right-handed while Sunsource scored last year in horrendous conditions when the race was run the traditional way.
Cusack, who was owned by a ‘Lady’s Syndicate’ collected almost $150,000 in bonuses for his owners despite finishing down the track in the 2022 Magic Millions 2YO Classic and then earlier this year in the Magic Millions 3YO Guineas.
“We’re hoping for a third straight win on Saturday,” Young said.
“Everyone is pretty excited. They’re a good bunch of ladies and we’ve ended up picking up a piece of the lady’s bonus in the last couple of years.
“It’s a great incentive and it helps pay their way.
“Hopefully we can get him up there and give some new ladies a fun week at Magic Millions.”
More Racing News
Thrilling Scone Cup success for in-form Hellsing
Trained by Annabel and Rob Archibald, Hellsing has entered excellent shape and notched his finest victory yet in the Listed $200,000 Arrowfield Scone Cup (1600m) held at Scone on Friday.On his 10th run in a preparation exceeding six months, Hellsing is thriving more than ever, building on a Royal Randwick...
Trainer Moloney sees ongoing enhancement in Hearcomesthestar
Improvement has marked every preparation, and John Moloney, the trainer, expects additional development from Hearcomesthestar in her upcoming appearance at Flemington.From 28 races, Hearcomesthestar has notched six wins and eight places, but Stakes grade has proven challenging for her.The approaching six-year-old earned a Listed placing at Geelong earlier this year,...
Searle family from SA chasing Melbourne Cup dream with Sir Kingsford
Gary and Nichole Searle, together with their daughter Brianna Callanan, form a South Australian training outfit with ambitions for Sir Kingsford in the Melbourne Cup.A victory in Saturday's Listed Andrew Ramsden (3200m) at Flemington earns the winner a Melbourne Cup ballot exemption ahead of the big November event.Nichole Searle sampled...
Scone's Luskin Star Stakes sees Estadio Mestalla with tough weight
Trainer Joe Pride questions the two-kilo advantage given to a Group 1 winner over Estadio Mestalla in the Luskin Star Stakes, but trusts the steady gelding to deliver full commitment.At seven years old, he notched his top triumph in the prior year's Listed Winter Stakes (1100m) and must shoulder 61kg...
Barrier 18 no hindrance to Sequista's Scone return
Trainers Gerald Ryan and Sterling Alexiou believe filly Sequista has the class for black-type success despite her tendency to undermine herself.Having notched stakes placings in the 2024 Inglis Nursery (1000m) and run near the placings in Tempted's Percy Sykes Stakes (1200m), the three-year-old targets another milestone in Saturday's Listed Denise's...
Flemington awaits Concord Connie's next bold move
Trainer Charlotte Littlefield hopes her talented filly Concord Connie can replicate her recent feat before entertaining grander aspirations.In her third race appearance at Flemington on Anzac Day, Concord Connie notched a breathtaking win by six lengths in sharp time.This Saturday, the filly heads back to Flemington to compete against the...
Dark Jewel Classic in sights for Harlem Queen
While Harlem Queen didn't sustain her early promise from age three, trainer Nathan Doyle feels confident after her trouble-free lead-up that she might restore reliable results.She returns Saturday in the Dark Jewel Classic (1400m) held at Scone, where despite preferring stamina tests ahead, barrier five positions her well for Doyle's...
Flemington run to decide Different Gravy's Queensland Derby chances
At Flemington, Different Gravy will put his Queensland Derby dreams to the test in upcoming action.Following a Listed triumph over 1800m at Flemington on Melbourne Cup Day last year, trainer Henry Dwyer fixed his focus on the northern Derby.The Group 1 Queensland Derby (2400m) at Eagle Farm scheduled for May...
Abounding's scratch lets Napoleonic into Doomben 10,000 lineup
Confirmation has arrived that Napoleonic will join the Doomben 10,000 field, following Abounding's removal which opened the door for the colt in the elite Group 1 dash.Team members experienced a stressful seven days after the three-year-old earned second emergency status for the $1.5 million event, as reserve Beadman claimed a...
Snowden's stable loaded with top sprinters for feature clashes
Boasting a stable full of high-caliber sprinters primed for black-type action, trainer Peter Snowden enjoys the luxury of picking and choosing among several prestigious races.Just a couple of weeks earlier, Zealously claimed victory in the Hawkesbury Gold Rush (1100m), followed by King Of Roseau and Beadman grabbing interstate stakes wins...