Trent Busuttin and Natalie Young ran one-two in the Gr.2 Moonee Valley Vase (2040m) last Saturday with Forgot You (NZ) (Savabeel) and Commander Harry (NZ) (Reliable Man), and the expat Kiwi trainers are hoping to repeat the feat in the Gr.1 Victoria Derby (2500m) at Flemington on Saturday.
The couple has been pleased with the way Forgot You has come through his weekend run and said he is thriving ahead of his Derby assignment.
“He has come through it super. He had a tough enough run on Saturday but we were keen to have one,” Busuttin told RSN927.
“He is a big, strong colt who smashes through his feed and he thrives on it. We were always going to have the one-week back-up off the Vase.
“The Vase record tells you it’s the right race but he has certainly come through it good enough.”
The Cranbourne trainer was thrilled with fellow Kiwi-bred Commander Harry’s performance on Saturday, with the $101 outsider just coming up short against his stablemate.
“One is $3 and the other one is $20 (for the Derby) and there was a nose between them (on Saturday),” Busuttin said.
“He (Commander Harry) was nominated for the race, like you do at the start of the spring.
“He is only a light horse and we didn’t really expect him to get there but he is thriving and he raced well. He is a tough little bugger so he will take his place.”
Meanwhile, fellow Kiwi-bred Sierra Sue (NZ) (Darci Brahma) will be looking to add to her Group One record when she contests the Empire Rose Stakes (1600m) on the same Flemington card.
“She had the heart fibrillation in the Toorak (Gr.1, 1600m) and we have been treading water,” Busuttin said.
“She galloped up fantastic on Tuesday morning and at this stage she will definitely take her place.”
