Trainers record is on the rise

Former Cambridge trainers Trent Busuttin and Natalie Young will be chasing one Derby and preparing for another today.

Young is in New Zealand with Rising Red, who will be the sole Australian-trained runner when he represents the couple’s Cranbourne stable in the $1 million New Zealand Derby.

Back home Busuttin is putting the finishing touches on Anaheim, the stable’s runner in the A$750,000 Australian Guineas (1600m) at Flemington.

Anaheim is on a path to the A$2 million ATC Derby (2400m), which Busuttin and Young won so dominantly last year with Tavago.

Busuttin and Young haven’t had much luck in the New Zealand Derby with their five runners. Last year they saddled up two starters and finished sixth (Tavago) and seventh (Predator).

Busuttin’s best result is a fifth with Six O’clock News in 2008.

‘‘We’re hoping our luck changes this year, but the wide draw [17] has put a dampener on things,’’ Busuttin said of Michael Dee’s mount.

‘‘We were also hoping for a wet track to take some of the others out of it. He doesn’t have real class, but he’ll go the mile and a half [2400m] and most of them won’t get it.’’

Rising Red, a son of Redwood, went with Busuttin and Young when they shifted to Cranbourne last year. He had one trial in New Zealand, at Te Teko when a close second, and in eight Australian starts he has recorded two wins and four placings.

His maiden win was on a heavy track over 1620 metres last November and he followed up with three seconds before scoring over 2100m at Sandown on February 22.

After that race Michael Dee’s agent contacted Busuttin inquiring about the New Zealand Derby ride for the former Kiwi apprentice.