Stakes target for rising star

Trent Busuttin thinks Celestial Fury is a Derby horse in the making, but he is hoping to secure a juvenile stakes scalp with the colt at Flemington on Saturday.

The son of Savabeel will contest the Listed Taj Rossi Series Final (1600m) in just his second career start after winning over 1420m when on debut at the Melbourne track earlier this month.

Busuttin, who trains in partnership with his wife Natalie Young, believes he has taken a lot of improvement from that run and he is expecting a bold showing from the colt before he heads for a spell in preparation for this three-year-old term.

“He has improved off his first up win,” Busuttin told RSN927. “The way he won, he has still got natural improvement in him, I think he will race a bit smarter.

“It is a good, solid field for a 1600m two-year-old race. I will be disappointed if he doesn’t go close.

“Hopefully he runs well and then he will go to the paddock for a little break and aim towards those staying features for three-year-olds.”

Celestial Fury was purchased by Busuttin out of Riverrock Farm’s 2020 New Zealand Bloodstock Ready To Run Sale draft for $120,000.

Meanwhile, Busuttin is looking forward to the spring with fellow New Zealand-bred Impecunious.

The rising four-year-old daughter of Sacred Falls placed in the Gr.2 Phar Lap Stakes (1500m) and Gr.1 Vinery Stud Stakes (2000m) before finishing ninth in the Gr.1 Australian Oaks (2400m) at her last start.

While disappointed in her last start result, Busuttin believes she is in for a big spring.

“Impecunious was Group One placed and ran in the Oaks,” he said. “She didn’t see the mile and a half out, which was quite surprising, but I have no doubt she will measure up to some of those nice fillies and mares races throughout the (Melbourne Spring) carnival.”

Impecunious was previously trained in New Zealand by Michael and Matthew Pitman for whom she won and placed in her two starts before selling to Australian interests.

Winning streak continues for Not Usual Glorious

Former Kiwi stayer Not Usual Glorious kept his unblemished Australian record intact when winning his third race for new trainer Travis Doudle from as many starts when successful over 2032m at Morphettville on Saturday.

Doudle believes the former Shane Crawford-trained stayer could develop into an Adelaide Cup (Gr.2, 3200m) contender next year. 

The four-year-old stayer was able to sit off the speed and grind down another former Kiwi in Lord Bouzeron in the straight with Paul Gatt in the saddle, Doudle believing the decision to hold the horse back before kicking of his Australian career the right one.

“He’s been out here a little while but we didn’t want to kick him off too early and waited until the tracks were more suitable,” Doudle told Racing SA.

“You never know, he could develop into an Adelaide Cup horse,” he said.

The Morphettville trainer said he was likely to look for one more race locally before planning a spring campaign, which could involve a trip to Melbourne.