Victoria Derby 2017: Kiwi co-trainers find right balance for success
KIWI training couple Trent Busuttin and Natalie Young are a team on the rise and are armed with three contenders in Saturday’s $1.5m Victoria Derby.
SuperRacing
Don't miss out on the headlines from SuperRacing. Followed categories will be added to My News.
TRENT Busuttin and Natalie Young are partners in every sense of the word.
They met as teenagers in Singapore and two kids — Ben, 6, and Zara, 5, — two dogs and Group 1 success later, they’re a team rising fast after landing in Australia from New Zealand a little more than 12 months ago.
“We met up there and she was lucky enough to get stuck with me,” Busuttin, 38, joked on a rainy morning at the team’s as-new Cranbourne stables this week. “You don’t always agree. In a lot of partnerships there is a boss … but no, this is very much 50-50.”
THE EARLY OIL: DERBY DAY
VICTORIA DERBY TIPS: WHO WILL WIN?
TOP TIPS: WEEKEND BEST BETS
DERBY ANALYSIS: SULLY THE ACE IN THE PACK
Like all partnerships, there are nuances that might not be readily apparent to the outsider.
“I think we both have our roles,” Young, 40, said.
“I’m probably the more chilled out one. He probably fires up more than I do, which you would think would be the other way around
“I’m a Libran. I like balance.”
“And I don’t believe in that s---,” Busuttin chimed in.
“He’s a Scorpio, he fires up,” Young countered with a smile. “You just learn not to poke the bear.”
SNEAKY CHANCE PODCAST SPECIAL GUEST KATELYN MALLYON TALKS HOSTILITIES TOWARDS JOCKEYS, RIDING FOR FIVE-TIME WINNING OWNER LLOYD WILLIAMS AND, OF COURSE, FINDING A WINNER ON DERBY DAY
But both pride themselves on an old-fashioned New Zealander directness.
“The owners know when we say this is how it is, this is how it is,” Young said. “No bulls--- … a Kiwi attitude.”
Busuttin and Young have been training together for six years and had early success when Sangster claimed the Victoria Derby in 2011.
They moved from Cambridge on New Zealand’s north island to Cranbourne in August last year. They started with 20 stalls and now have 60.
“It was a big move — I think we brought two kids, two dogs and about 20 horses,” Busuttin said. “But it was actually very seamless. We’d been trying to come for three years, trying to secure stabling at Flemington and Caulfield, but just couldn’t get boxes.
“The racing here, it’s booming — the prize money — and I suppose everything comes down to money, one way or the other. You get better tracks, better facilities, better jockeys, better horses and because of that, Australian racing is thriving.”
Busuttin and Young had six winners in their first month of training in Australia and hope to add to the bounty with Group 1 success at Flemington on Saturday.
Main Stage is the chance people are talking about in the $1.5 million AAMI Victoria Derby, but Sully, owned by Busuttin’s old school mate and purchased for only $36,000, also looks good. And then there’s the outsider Johnny Vinko.
On Tuesday, Busuttin was the eyes up on the veranda of the stables, watching his charges tick over on the Cranbourne track. Young was in the saddle, the ears and touch.
“We complement each other,” he said. “She’s an extremely good horsewoman. She’ll ride 10 horses a morning. It makes a world of difference to know them personally.
“I used to ride … when we got here 12 months ago I was riding, but now I’m too fat.”
Young was on Main Stage for his 6am trot on Tuesday. He had his main gallop the day before and she was happy with how he felt.
Washing him after, she wiped his nose and flicked the last remaining drips of water from his legs with a squeegee. A kind word for her “buddy” let him know he was off to the walker to cool down.
Then it was on to the next one. Young — particular and no nonsense — had been up since 3.30am. It’s obvious being with the horses is the part of the job that suits her best.
“I love that side of it,” Young said. “At the end of the morning Trent and I will sit down and discuss where the horses are at. Because I ride them and feel them and see if they’re fit, I know.
“I see how they’re blowing straight after a gallop. Giving that feedback is really crucial.
“We’ve got great other riders, really good staff. Your feedback’s really important — that’s what we rely on as trainers.”
Young’s mother Corinna was a trainer and her father Graeme a farrier.
She had to get out of Matamata in New Zealand “because there was something in the water, everyone around me was getting pregnant”, so she headed to Singapore.
Busuttin learnt his trade from his father Paddy, a successful trainer, preparing horses including champion stayer Castletown who notched seven Group 1 wins including three Wellington Cups and was third in the 1992 Melbourne Cup behind Subzero.
Paddy, now retired and living on the Gold Coast, also had a hand in the career of Winx’s trainer Chris Waller. Waller worked for Paddy straight out of school, graduating to foreman and assistant trainer before taking over the stables when Busuttin Sr moved to Singapore.
Trent moved to Singapore with his father and that’s where he met Natalie, who was working for a different trainer.
Busuttin has one message for his owners on Saturday — just enjoy being at Flemington on such a magic day of racing.
“Enjoy the fact you’ve got a runner,” he said. “When we first started off, when we had runners in big races you’d get yourself worked up and be disappointed if you didn’t win — you always want to win.
“There’s so many factors, so many circumstances why you don’t win, so now I just take it very easy. If it happens, it happens.”
And while his stable has experienced early success, he wants his team to keep building.
“Things are going well, but you want to win the big races and be competing against the Hayeses and the Weirs,” Busuttin said. “If we can win this race on Saturday it’ll be another major step.”
Dusty’s the main man
THERE’S Dusty, a Caddy and is it Dion? Trainer Trent Busuttin can be forgiven for still not getting his head around just who these people are.
A New Zealander, he’s be in Australia since August last year and, when his stable’s business manager Dan Moylan had the bright idea to get some Richmond footballers involved in Derby favourite Main Stage, Busuttin seriously had no idea what it all meant.
Then Dustin Martin had an unprecedented season, Richmond won the flag and Busuttin’s new Cranbourne home and stables suddenly were brimming with yellow and black.
“In New Zealand (AFL is) a non-event, basically,” Busuttin said, immediately aware he shouldn’t have said it. “My son (Ben), he’s six and just at school. Now he doesn’t know who the All Blacks are. All he knows is Dustin.
“I was talking to some guys in New Zealand the other day and I said Dusty’s basically the equivalent of (All Blacks legends) Dan Carter or Richie McCaw. There’s no one bigger in Australian sport at the moment.
“It’s been a good time to get on the Richmond bandwagon.”
There are about 30 owners in Main Stage but the headline maker is Martin.
The all-conquering Tiger was tipped into the colt by Richmond assistant coach Andrew McQualter. Teammates Josh Caddy, Dion Prestia, Toby Nankervis and Anthony Miles also have a share.
When Martin came face to face with the imposing Main Stage for the first time about six months ago, he was a bit apprehensive. He hadn’t been around horses much.
Busuttin’s office manager Melinda Hyland has been a mad Richmond fan all her life. So when she found out Dusty and his teammates would be at the stables, all hell broke loose.
“She pulled her three girls out of school and they were all here getting photographs and signatures,” Busuttin said. “There were four of them and Natalie and I was on the end and the one they put in the paper, they cut me out.”
Busuttin is still getting his head around this AFL thing. He was confused about why that guy — “What’s his name? James Hird?” — was allowed to present a medal when he’d been “tipped out” by the league.
But he does have some football analogies down pat.
“The horses are like footy players — some are good trainers, some need to be pushed and some need to be cuddled,” he said.
Martin missed Main Stage’s breakthrough win at Flemington on Turnbull Stakes day, but is expected to be trackside tomorrow.
Busuttin has two other runners in the Derby — Sully and Johnny Vinko.
“To be honest, I don’t care which one wins, as long as one of them does,” he said. “They’re all good owners.”
Stewards query Pride Of Jenni Toorak entry
Racing Victoria stewards have inquired into leading trainer Ciaron Maher’s decision to enter star mare Pride Of Jenni for Saturday’s Group 1 Toorak Handicap at Caulfield.
Melbourne Cup weight penalty for Bart Cummings winner
Just Fine’s gutsy win earned him a Melbourne Cup weight penalty, while Racing Victoria also announced penalties for last Saturday’s Epsom Handicap and Metropolitan winners.