Victorian trainer David ‘Butch’ Bourne, has long maintained an indelible link with the New Zealand breeding industry.

For 25 years now Bourne, through the aid of contacts throughout the country, has managed to make a good living from young horses that don’t necessarily fetch the price of a four-bedroom mansion in Auckland.

However, Butch’s status in the Bourne family has been challenged by young son Will, who has now taken over the challenging role of bloodstock manager of Ciaron Maher and David Eustace’s training empire.

Bourne junior has been behind some of the huge purchases – including this year’s Victoria Derby winner Hitotsu – he is confident that a purchase made almost a year ago could be one of his best.

The Maher-Eustace empire who house horses in stables along the east coast have uncovered arguably one of the most talked about youngsters this year.

The filly named Coolangatta has only had one racecourse appearance for a four lengths annihilation of her rivals in October.

Coolangatta trialled on Tuesday at Randwick in Sydney and the push-button filly went to the line hard held by Tommy Berry, warming the saddle for regular jockey James McDonald – in Hong Kong for a super jockeys’ series as part of the International Races.

The only juvenile among the seven starters, Coolangatta held a winning margin of a half-length on the older fillies and mares.

The daughter of Written Tycoon will be floated to Queensland where she will have her final start before tackling the Magic Millions on the Gold Coast.

She is already favourite for the Magic Millions and Golden Slipper events following her performances.

“We are really impressed with her, and I know that James McDonald is terrifically taken by every part of her make-up,” Will Bourne said. 

“When she came into the stable, I thought to myself, my mother has had a hell of a couple of years being CEO of the Northern Hospital in Epping, long nights and tragic stories so I bought her a share in Coolangatta. To my surprise the first call I got was – this is an extremely expensive operation owning a horse, son – all I ever get is bills. Mum, be patient.

“And last week she rang me and said that if Coolangatta can win the Magic Millions she will be able to renovate her apartment.

“I think she’s catching on pretty quick.”

As far as James McDonald goes, nothing seems to get in the way of his trajectory into being one of the world’s finest jockeys. 

Firstly, he won the nation’s biggest prize money event in The Everest in October and then he captured the world’s best handicap event, the Melbourne Cup.

And it seems his reputation as a crack golfer hasn’t suffered, managing a hole in one twice within a week as the curtain came down on the spring.

However, with the urgings of Will and Debra Bourne, McDonald’s days of being a professional golfer are a long, long way off while Coolangatta remains Australia’s best two-year-old.