2025 Zipping Classic hit-out for Brayden Star

 The Trent Busuttin and Natalie Young yard is not about to walk away from a $750,000 staying opportunity at Caulfield without having a crack.

That means Brayden Star will take his place in the Group 2 Zipping Classic (2400m) on Saturday, even though Busuttin readily acknowledges that the Listed Pakenham Cup (2500m), run on December 13, is probably the race that best suits him this prep.

Last year, the gelding underlined his staying credentials when he captured the Group 2 Herbert Power Stakes over the Caulfield 2400m, before progressing through the Moonee Valley Gold Cup (2500m) and the Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2600m) at Flemington during Cup week.

Following his spring efforts, the trainers had pencilled in a direct path to the Pakenham Cup, but after watching Brayden Star’s Cranbourne gallop on Saturday morning, they felt a lead-up run might bring him on further.

“I think the Pakenham Cup is a good race for him, but he does very well the horse,” Busuttin said.

“He had a gallop, and we were in two minds whether we go to the Zipping, probably knowing he’s not a winning chance, or go straight to Pakenham knowing it was softer for him.

“But the way he pulled up after the gallop, after having a week in the paddock after Flemington, he was blowing, so we might have to send him around in the Zipping.

“It’s alright to have a spin around in a $750,000 race and I’m sure he’ll weigh-in and pick up some of it (prize money), but it’s probably just beyond his grasp at weight-for-age.”

While Busuttin is realistic about the challenge of a weight-for-age Group 2, he believes the slightly shorter 2400m trip on Saturday will play more to Brayden Star’s strengths, and he is unconcerned by any prospect of rain-affected going.

He anticipates that the Zipping Classic field will largely consist of horses that have been trading blows with Brayden Star throughout the spring staying races.

At Flemington over 2600m, Brayden Star presented as though he was ready to chime in for a top-three finish, but on the heavy ground he just felt the last bit, a point that Tim Clark relayed after dismounting.

“I thought he was going to charge and run third, but Tim Clark got off him and said the 2600 metres found him out a little bit on the wet track,” Busuttin said.

“We thought he would climb into two miles, but you can only go on what those good riders say, and you have to listen to them.

“He’s won on a heavy 10 in June at Sandown, so a wet track won’t bother him, but it probably made it like a 2800-metre race.”

Beyond Saturday, the stable is already plotting a possible international leg to Brayden Star’s campaign, with a tilt at the Auckland Cup (3200m) in March firmly on the radar.

Busuttin and Young have already shown they can travel a horse effectively to New Zealand, having seen Thedoctoroflove finish second in the New Zealand Derby earlier in the year.

“Even though it goes against what Tim (Clark) said, it is a $750,000 race,” Busuttin said.

“It’s good stake money over there now, it’s just the reverse way.”

Punters eyeing off the Zipping Classic, the Pakenham Cup or even the Auckland Cup should take the time to hunt for value with the best Australian betting sites before placing your bets.