Cauthen returns from two-year break
A lot of water has gone under the bridge since Cauthen last made a racetrack appearance.
That was at the corresponding meeting at Caulfield two years ago when he finished sixth in a 1400m race behind future Group One winners Trust In A Gust and Lucky Hussler.
Trained by Trent Busuttin and Natalie Young, Cauthen runs for the first time since in the November Relaunch @ Caulfield Glasshouse Handicap on Saturday.
Since he last raced, Cauthen has undergone a wind operation and recovered from a hairline fracture to his shoulder.
Cauthen came into the Busuttin-Young stable following a successful three-year-old campaign during which he beat subsequent Cox Plate winner Shamus Award when trained by Andrew Campbell.
“He was making a terrible noise when we first got him,” Busuttin said.
“We scoped him but it was all fine. We raced him in a couple of races and he put in mediocre performances so we got him dynamic scoped which showed the horse was grade five out of five broken winded.”
As Cauthen was nearing a return to racing he suffered a hairline fracture to the off-side shoulder and needed more time in a paddock followed by rehabilitation on the treadmill and water walker.
Busuttin says Cauthen loves being a racehorse and is enjoying being allowed to run after being on a restricted program.
He said Cauthen had had a jump-out at Cranbourne, was trialling well, and did not appear to have lost any of his ability but added there was nothing like race fitness.
And Saturday’s race will show whether the wind operation has been a success.
“While he’s fit enough to go to the races he’s probably going to get a flat tyre somewhere in the straight,” Busuttin said.
“There’s nothing like race fitness after what he’s been through.
“With the wind problem I think you know if they have failed straight away but you don’t know if they’ve been completely successful until they’re put under race day pressure.”