Gr.2 Bill Stutt Stakes (1600m) winner Forgot You (NZ) (Savabeel) heads into Saturday’s Gr.1 Caulfield Guineas (1600m) chasing a hat-trick of wins, and Trent Busuttin says he’s very pleased with his condition ahead of the A$2 million classic.
“He’s come through the race perfect,” said Busuttin, who trains in partnership with Natalie Young.
“He’s thriving, and he’s going into a Group One like you need to be.
“His coat’s gleaming and his work was first-class this morning, so he will present in the best-possible order.”
Forgot You did hold a nomination for Saturday’s Gr.1 Might And Power Stakes (2000m) and while he won’t head in that direction, it’s not beyond the realms of possibility that he could take on the older horses in two of the spring’s biggest races.
“If he won the Caulfield Guineas, he would be in the Cox Plate without any hesitation,” Busuttin said.
“If he goes down a Derby route and happened to win the Victoria Derby, it would be something we would consider, having a look at the Melbourne Cup.
“I think it’s something that’s obviously not done anymore, the Europeans coming here have sort of changed the landscape haven’t they, where the race has become extremely hard to beat them at, and given they aren’t going to be here in numbers again, I thought it didn’t hurt to throw in a cheeky nom.
“We’re obviously a long way from that, but the probable thinking is he hits the line strong in the Caulfield Guineas, and we go to a Vase and a Derby.”
Forgot You is at $15 with Sportsbet for the Caulfield Guineas, $8 for the Victoria Derby and $151 for the Melbourne Cup.
The son of Savabeel is one of three runners in the Guineas for Busuttin Racing, with the other two being Riverplate (NZ) (Flying Artie) and Zerelle (Snitzel).
“Riverplate, he didn’t have any luck whatsoever in the Bill Stutt Stakes, he made his run on the inside while Forgot You went to the outside, he got the door shut on him and he got beaten two lengths without being extended,” Busuttin said.
“If he’d run well, if he’d run in the money in that race, it was the natural progression to run in the Caulfield Guineas.
“He certainly won’t disgrace himself; I think he’ll run very, very well.”