Trent Busuttin and Natalie Young to tread proven path to Blue Diamond with Field Of Play

Trainers Trent Busuttin and Natalie Young know what it takes to win a Blue Diamond Stakes and are following their proven formula with exciting youngster Field Of Play in Saturday’s Blue Diamond Prelude at Caulfield.

Impressive debut winner Field Of Play will attempt to stay unbeaten in Saturday’s Group 3 Blue Diamond Prelude for colts and geldings. Picture: Racing Photos

What worked once could succeed again for trainers Trent Busuttin and Natalie Young with exciting two-year-old Field Of Play.

The Cranbourne-based duo won the 2020 Blue Diamond Stakes with Tagaloa so it made perfect sense to follow that template five years later.

Tagaloa won at The Valley before tackling the Blue Diamond Prelude ahead of his stallion-making Blue Diamond Stakes triumph.

While a stud career is not an option for the gelded Field Of Play, Busuttin and Young are happy to repeat their proven form pattern, taking in Saturday’s $300,000 Blue Diamond Prelude at Caulfield.

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Busuttin said Field Of Play still had to prove he was up to Tagaloa’s level but had impressed the stable early in his career.

“He’s a long way off that (winning a Group 1 race) right now but I do think he’s a pretty good horse and I think you’ll see that on Saturday,” Busuttin said.

Field Of Play has not raced for six weeks following his emphatic 3-¼ length win on December 28.

Busuttin said Field Of Play enjoyed a short break before continuing his Blue Diamond preparation in a Cranbourne jumpout last month.

Field Of Play wins on debut in a procession & the punters certainly knew 😱

The son of Deep Field had the race won a long way from home under a confident @blake_shinn ✨@busuttinpic.twitter.com/6au3ShNGa3

— Racing.com (@Racing) December 28, 2024

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“He had a 1000m jumpout a fortnight ago to keep him ticking over and he jumped out super against the older horses,” Busuttin said.

“He had a week in the paddock then we just brought him back and just kept him ticking over.

“He’s had five or six trials all-up and on raceday he did it so he’s good to go again.

“He trialled up to expectations so we’re very happy with him and I think he’s going to be very, very hard to beat on Saturday.”

Bookies rated Field Of Play as the $3.80 second favourite behind impressive Ballarat debut winner Aleppo Pine, who opened at $2.40.

Aleppo Pine has a strong turn of foot to accelerate clear in the opener & win on debut! 🙌@[e-mail]/LBp0CcAk3j

— Racing.com (@Racing) December 7, 2024

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Busuttin said Aleppo Pine had looked promising but was wary of two expensive unraced youngsters, Algorithmic and Devil Night, from Hawkes Racing’s Sydney stable.

Devil Night was a $1.4m purchase at the 2024 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale for Yulong Stud, who dished out $760,000 for Algorithmic at the same sale.

“The Godolphin horse (Aleppo Pine) looks a very smart horse in his race and his trial so he’s the one to beat,” Busuttin said.

“Good stables from Sydney are bringing first-starters down that are well-bred fast two-year-olds so that will be interesting as well.

“But I’m going there thinking we can win the race for sure.”

Top jockey Blake Shinn will again ride Field Of Play at Caulfield.

Originally published as Trent Busuttin and Natalie Young to tread proven path to Blue Diamond with Field Of Play