NZ stablemates drift after wide Derby draws
PROGRESSIVE Trent Busuttin and Natalie Young-trained gelding Main Stage will enter Saturday’s Group One Victoria Derby as the $4.80 favourite at Crownbet despite drawing barrier 14.
The Kiwi dynamo, which opened at $51 for the Victoria Derby, experienced a slight drift in the market following Tuesday’s barrier draw after being as short as $4.
The horse comes into the race having never missed a placing from six starts, including a respectable group three debut on Caulfield Cup day, finishing third behind Darren Weir-trained Cliff’s Edge.
Three-year-old Tangled is another horse that opened at a huge price, subsequently firmed, then drifted after drawing a wide barrier.
Opening alongside Main Stage at the $51 quote, the Chris Waller-trained colt currently sits on the third line of betting at William Hill at the $6.50 mark.
By contrast, hat-trick seeking Ace High, drew barrier three for the $1.5 million feature.
The winner of the Spring Champion Stakes at Randwick on October 7 come into the feature at Flemington on Saturday looking to record its second group one title in as many races.
Ace High drifted from $4 out to $5 at Sportsbet.
Sully, which is a stablemate to the favourite Main Stage, drew barrier 15. This forced Neds to move the gelding out half a point to the $6.50 quote.
Sully ran third behind Ace High in the Spring Champion Stakes at Randwick at the beginning of month, but Trent Busuttin believes the horse has the ability to register its first-ever group title.
“I think he can turn the tables on Ace High, who led in a slowly run race, and we were back at the tail and couldn’t get out,” the trainer said.
A big plus for the three-year-old will be the booking of champion jockey Hugh Bowman.
Bowman, who is fresh off his brilliant performance aboard Winx in Saturday’s Cox Plate will left to decide the race day machinations.
“I’ll leave the tactics to Hugh on the day,” Busuttin said.
“He’s never been on his back, but I have no doubt he’ll figure it out on race day.
“Obviously none of mine have run over the 2500m distance, which is the query, but I think they will all run the trip.
“Corey Brown (in the Gloaming) and Brenton Avdulla (Spring Champion) both told me Sully would have no problems with the distance after riding him in Sydney.”