Busuttin & Young stable readies two for Classics Preview
Flemington's customary venue for its Derby and Oaks preview races has seen a change in hosting duties this year.
The two events have been consolidated into a single race this year, set to be contested at Caulfield on Saturday over the traditional 1800-meter distance.
The Trent Busuttin and Natalie Young training operation from Cranbourne will present dual contenders in the HKJC World Pool Classics Preview (1800m) on Saturday, with Arashi Flash and Icy You slated to compete.
Both horses are heading into the race following recent successes and are on a campaign trail aiming for the prestigious Group 1 Victoria Derby (2500m) at Flemington next month.
Arashi Flash benefited from an increase in distance, securing a victory over 1547m at Geelong on August 28. Icy You, after finishing second on debut on the synthetic track at Pakenham, went on to win over 1600m at Echuca on August 30.
"This race is a nice lead-up," Young said.
"Arashi Flash, he won really nicely at Geelong, and he's ticked over nicely through it.
"If you are heading towards a Derby trip, and he is a horse that is out of a Zabeel mare, it is a nice progression.
"Icy You, he ran second on the synthetic at his first start and then won well at Echuca.
"He may not have beaten great competition, but he did it easy and Froggy (Craig Newitt) was looking back over his shoulder.
"He's worked up super and he has to get around Caulfield, but he's bred to get out to that sort of trip.
"It's nice to have those sorts of horses at this time of year heading down that Derby path."
Young commented that the stable would use the horses' performances on Saturday as a benchmark to assess the viability of targeting subsequent Derby lead-up races.
"There is the Super Impose Stakes coming up, there is the Caulfield Classic, there's the Geelong Classic," Young said.
"They are all nice races, and this is progression to those, but they have to put their hands up to show they are up to city grade.
"You can't win it, if you're not in it."
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