Craig aiming to go from maiden to 2024 Golden Eagle winner in amazing five months

Trainer Trent Busuttin has been impressed by the rapid rise of his emerging import ahead of Saturday’s $10 million feature.

Untapped talent Craig can complete one of Australian spring’s most impressive ascents when he hunts a remarkable $10 million Golden Eagle (1500m) at Rosehill Gardens on Saturday.

The Trent Busuttin and Natalie Young-trained galloper was still a maiden in May but is now a Group 1 placegetter and a firming $14 chance to win Australia’s second richest race.

Craig was purchased from overseas following his first start in the UK when the gelding finished third in a race at Newmarket last November.

He burst onto the Australian racing landscape with a dominant 4-1/2 length success at Bendigo and has continued on an upward trajectory since then.

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“When he won a maiden in May, if you’d have asked if he would be running in a Group 1 and a Golden Eagle, I would have thought it would be a big ask,” Busuttin said.

“But everyone puts a circle around this race if you have a four-year-old with ability. He came a long way in a short amount of time.

“We had Sierra Sue in the race a few years ago but it was bottomless that day sand she didn’t handle it so he will be out second runner.”

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Craig has never missed the placing in eight starts and followed up a second in the Group 3 Sandown Stakes (1500m) with a last-start runner up behind Antino in the Group 1 Toorak Handicap (1600m).

A gun Blake Shinn ride helped Antino run away with the Toorak but Craig was clearly the best of the closers.

Busuttin and Young’s son of Territories has continued to rise to ever challenge the stable put in front of him.

“Three-year-old winter form can be deceiving but he has obviously gone on with it in the spring,” Busuttin said.

“We jumped him up a few pay grades. He was a rating of 80 in the Sandown Stakes and then run in the Group 1.

“He got smashed by Antino but you have to be happy with him. There is no hiding on Saturday, it’s going to be a hot field but that’s what you are expecting when they put up $10 million.”

WHAT A RIDE FROM BLAKE SHINN! 🔥

Antino goes from last to first in the Toorak Handicap! 💨 @tonygollan@blake_shinnpic.twitter.com/bwIM9WCMmD

— Racing.com (@Racing) October 12, 2024

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Craig arrived in Sydney on Thursday morning and will be stabled with Bjorn Baker in the lead up to the Golden Eagle.

The lightly-raced chestnut is yet to race the Sydney way of going but Busuttin is confident he will handle the experience from a perfect draw in barrier five.

“He has worked up super right handed and galloped on super on Tuesday morning with Nash Rawiller on, which is a big plus obviously,” he said.

“A soft gate is very important.

“He will turn up in good order. It will be a tough task but we expect him to run well.”

Trent Busuttin (pictured) and training partner Natalie Young are eager to win the Golden Eagle. Picture: Racing Photos via Getty Images.

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It could be a significant day for the Busuttin and Young stable as they will also hunt Group 1 glory in Melbourne with Keeneland in the $2 million Victoria Derby (2500m) at Flemington.

A son of Almanzor, Keeneland will connect with Hong Kong-based superstar Hugh Bowman and is a $10 Derby chance.

The emerging stayer is coming off a third in the Group 3 Caulfield Classic last start.

“I think Keeneland is a big chance,” Busuttin said.

“Either race would be nice and the $10 million would be nice but we have sort of been around the mark in these races without winning one.

“You have to be winning them.”