Busuttin and Young stable weigh up options for Daggers

The Trent Busuttin and Natalie Young stable are expected to play a waiting game before making a final decision on where unbeaten colt Daggers starts.

The three-year-old holds an entry in both the Listed Exford Plate (1400m) at Flemington and the Group 2 The Run To The Rose (1200m) at Rosehill.

Both races are run on Saturday.

Busuttin said the most likely scenario was Daggers would line up at Flemington on Saturday, although he could be an acceptor for both races.

Daggers scored over 1300m on debut at Sandown before winning again, leading throughout, at Moonee Valley at his most recent outing.

Saturday’s outing, wherever that may be, will be Daggers’ first in Black Type company and potentially lead to a start in the Group 1 Golden Rose (1400m) at Rosehill on September 28.

“It is more than likely he will go to the Exford Plate,” Busuttin said.

“He’s been going great at home since his win at The Valley.

“He had a gallop on Saturday morning, the reverse way, because hopefully we end up in Sydney at some stage.

“It should be a nice race for him at Flemington on Saturday instead of taking on Bustling and Storm Boy and those sort of horses in the Run To The Rose, and if we can win next start, then we can take them on in the Golden Rose.

“We might look to pay up in Sydney as well, but if everything is going to plan, we’ll be looking to run at Flemington.”

Busuttin said the Exford Plate and then potentially Golden Rose would provide Busuttin and Young with an idea of whether Daggers will stretch out in trip or is more of a sprinter.

Potential further spring targets for the colt following the Golden Rose would be to press on to the Group 1 Caulfield Guineas (1600m) on October 12 or be freshened for a tilt at the Group 1 Coolmore Stud Stakes (1200m) at Flemington on November 2.