If all goes to plan on Saturday in the Group 1 Australian Guineas (1600m), Trent Busuttin & Natalie Young will look to bring their talented colt Forgot You back to Flemington a week later to contest the Group 1 Australian Cup (2000m).
“It’s on the agenda, I’d like to run him in that. I know he’s a big strong horse, he copped a fair bit of racing in the spring,” Busuttin told RSN’s Racing Pulse program when asked about a possible start in the Australian Cup.
“In a perfect world, he’d run in both those and then go out in the paddock and have a decent spell.”
Connections, which include prominent owners Ozzie Kheir and John O’Neill, may have an even better option than the Australian Cup if the Savabeel colt runs particularly well in the Guineas.
“Hopefully he wins the race Saturday and we’re in negotiations with a stud deal and we might have to leave it [Australian Cup] off the table.”
Forgot You ran an eye-catching fourth first-up in the Group 3 C.S. Hayes Stakes (1400m) at Flemington last start after settling near the rear of the field and running on late.
The Busuttin & Young team have stepped him up to the 1600m of the Guineas quickly this time in, as opposed to his preparation in the spring.
“When he raced in the Caulfield Guineas, just through circumstances, he was fourth-up at the mile and he raced like a horse that needed 2000 metres,” Busuttin said.
“While I suggest 2000m is probably his best distance, we’ve purposely have had him to go second-up into this race to hopefully have a bit more speed in his legs.”
A possible stud deal might not be the only thing on offer if the Cranbourne-trained colt can pull off a victory in the Australian Guineas. Connections may also have a decision to make if they’re offered a start in the $5 million All-Star Mile at Flemington on March 19.
“It would be a nice problem to have,” Busuttin said in response to a potential offer to run in the event.
The stable have opted to keep Forgot You in Melbourne this weekend after also initially accepting in the Randwick Guineas (1600m), where the track is currently rated a Heavy 10 after an enormous amount of rain in Sydney recently.
Staying in Melbourne won’t avoid a clash with promising Sydney-trained galloper Profondo, though, as trainer Richard Litt decided to bring his talented galloper down to Melbourne to run first-up in the Flemington feature.
“Any trainer that says that they’re happy about him being in the race, Profondo, would be lying,” Busuttin stated.
“He looks a superstar.
“But he’s got to travel down, he’s got to go this way first time, he’s got a very wide barrier.
“So we’re certainly not conceding the race to him.”
Profondo may not just be bringing more class to the event; he may also be bring the recent Sydney weather down with him. There is rain forecasted for Saturday in Melbourne, although Busuttin is not bothered if this is the case as Forgot You has won twice from three starts on soft ground.
“I’d be happy with a bit of rain,” he said.
“He can win on top of the ground, no question.
“But it probably turns it into a little bit more of a staying contest which would suit our bloke.”
Busuttin & Young have a trio of runners for Saturday’s Group 1 feature, with Pascero and Zerelle also joining Forgot You in the event.
Pascero is another a serious contender for the team after going to the front and being nabbed in the closing stages of the C.S. Hayes Stakes last start by the Enver Jusufovic-trained Pinstriped.
Busuttin indicated that Pascero will be ridden differently this time over the 1600m.
“He certainly won’t be leading up,” he stated.
“He should end up in the one-one.
“We want to be the one attacking at the 200m, rather than left out in front like he was [last start].
“I think we can go very close to turning things around on him [Pinstriped].”
Busuttin indicated that there’s improvement left in the lightly raced son of Pierro.
“Pascero is a big, heavy horse,” he stated.
“Always thought he’d be peaking third-up into this race.”
The other runner for the team is one of the outsiders for the event, Zerelle. The gelding has a wide barrier to contend with, but he has done nothing wrong winning both starts this time in, albeit in weaker grade.
“He’s 80/1, you can just ride him back and ride for luck,” Busuttin said.
“Hopefully he runs on and hits the line and picks up some prizemoney.”
Forgot You is currently paying $10 on Sportsbet to take out the Australian Guineas, while Pascero is $17 and Zerelle is $91. Forgot You is also rated an $8.50 chance to back up and win the Australian Cup on March 12.