3 minute read

It’s been a long time since one stable has held such a strong classic hand as the one co-trainers Trent Busuttin and Natalie Young have for this year’s Victoria Derby.

The former Kiwis are looking forward to starting as many as four three-year-olds in the $1.5 million Victoria Derby (2500m) at Flemington on November 4.

The impressive Main Stage, Johnny Vinko and Sully laid down their Derby claims for the Cranbourne-based stable with excellent performances in Melbourne and Sydney last weekend.

On Saturday Salsamor, the fourth Derby hope for Busuttin and Young, gets his chance to cement his place in the Derby when he takes on the $2 million Caulfield Guineas.

A son of New Zealand’s boom classic sire Tavistock, Salsamor showed Derby potential with his eye-catching second to Showtime in the G2 Bill Stutt Stakes (1600m) at Moonee Valley on September 29.

Salsamor lost ground when taken wide at the 500m and was five lengths off the winner turning for home but no horse finished better in the last 100 metres to be beaten only a half length.

Main Stage shot to the top of Derby markets with his big finish to win the UCI Stakes (1800m) at Flemington last Saturday, beating stablemate Johnny Vinko into third place, while Sully produced a sound Derby trial with his strong third behind Ace High and Tangled in the G1 Spring Champion Stakes (2000m) at Randwick.

However Salsamor can shake up the Derby market with another bold performance in the Caulfield Guineas, a race that should produce a much higher rating than the UCI Stakes or Champion Stakes.

"He's running in the Caulfield Guineas - he deserves his chance," Busuttin said. "He was a bit stiff in his last run and I think it's a wide open Guineas.