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Busuttin and Young chase a second Derby success

3 minute read

Albarado and Wertheimer will be chasing the Group 1 Victoria Derby at Flemington.

WERTHEIMER.
WERTHEIMER. Picture: Racing Photos

Training partners Trent Busuttin and Natalie Young will again have multiple representation in the feature race on the opening day of the Melbourne Cup carnival when they saddle Albarado and Wertheimer in the $2 million Group 1 Victoria Derby (2500m). 

The pair has saddled multiple runners in recent years in the race that put them on the map way back in 2011 when Sangster won the blue riband event. 

While there has been calls from leading trainers to reduce Saturday's race from 2500m to 2000m, Busuttin is having none of it, claiming you don't have to run your horse in it if you don't want to. 

I'm a fan of it, everyone always raves on that it wrecks horses," Busuttin told RSN927. 

"It's pretty simple, if you don't want to run your horse, don't run it. 

"Look at the two-year-old races, the Golden Slipper, the Blue Diamond, how many of those horses go on and win multiple Group 1 races.  

"That's just the nature of it. 

"Matt Cumani is not carrying on with his horse (Khoekhoe), which would have been one of the favourites, because he believes it's not in the best interests of the horse to run it in the race. 

"To me, if our owners win a $2 million race, they don't really care if they don't ever win another race. 

"If you get the job done, that's how it is remembered." 

Despite Albarado ($6.50) being at a shorter quote with TAB than Wertheimer ($26) in betting, Busuttin does not think there is a lot between the pair. 

Albarado goes into the race as a last start winner of the Caulfield Stakes on October 17 while Wertheimer finished 10th in the Group 1 Spring Champion Stakes at Randwick on October 10 at his most recent start. 

While Wertheimer's form may not read well, Busuttin assures the horse is in better form that how it reads. 

"His last two runs in Melbourne were very good," Busuttin said. 

"He probably should have won the 1800-metre race at Flemington and then he went up to Sydney and got on the wrong leg and it was just a disaster. 

"It wasn't a true indication of the horse's ability. 

"We took a bit of hope out of Paddy Payne's horse (Cherry Tortoni) after it ran pretty similarly in Sydney and turned the form around at The Valley. 

"It served its purpose. He had a good run over 2000 metres and he'll present rock-hard fit. 

"He won't disgrace himself. He can run very well and if the track happened to be wet, he would grow another leg." 

Albarado loomed up to win at Flemington two starts back before breaking through in dogged fashion in the Caulfield Stakes. 

Busuttin said that was a messy race, but Albarado's staying prowess shone through. 

"He over-raced a bit, but the lack of tempo made Mark (Zahra) have to put him up in the race early and he got up and around them far too soon," Busuttin said. 

"We'll put him to sleep in the Derby and he should be able to slot over from barrier eight. 

"If he gets a decent run, he's going to be hard to beat. 

"I think he's a genuine each-way chance." 

Young Werther heads the TAB market at $3.80 from Cherry Tortoni at $4.40 with Albarado next in betting. 

"Danny O'Brien's horse (Young Werther) looks untapped and I think Paddy Payne's horse looks very good too," Busuttin said. 

"Anyone of those would be deserved winners, but I hope they don't, I hope it's one of ours." 


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