Mercury (Hobart)

CoxPlatefo­rgotten with Derbyplanf­or favourite Forgot You

- BRAD WATERS

RUNNING in the $5m Cox Plate was a considerat­ion but the Victoria Derby preparatio­n came first for developing colt Forgot You.

Forgot You shot to the top of Victoria Derby betting with his strong-finishing sixth in the Caulfield Guineas.

The manner of the run prompted co-trainers Trent Busuttin and Natalie Young to think about tackling the big prize in the Cox Plate.

But Young said a look at the Cox Plate acceptors was one factor in the stable’s decision to stick with the plan to in the Group 2 Drummond Golf Vase (2040m).

The prospect of finding a suitable rider to pilot Forgot You at 49.5kg was another.

“The Derby has always been the ultimate goal and when we saw what had paid up for the Cox Plate, we thought it was probably going to be a bit tough,” Young said.

“We thought about and had he run one or two in the Guineas, we would have definitely gone down that path to Cox Plate.

“He finished sixth in the Guineas and if we had been able to obtain the same rider, we’d have been a bit more persuaded.

“It’s hard finding a light rider because Daniel Moor has finally got him going well and worked him out.”

Forgot You is the $3.50 favourite for next Saturday’s Victoria Derby but is a $1.80 chance to maintain his unbeaten record at The Valley in the Drummond Golf Vase.

The colt has charged home in his two wins at The Valley, including at his last run on the course in the Group 2 Stutt Stakes over 1600m.

Like punters, Young said she expected Forgot You to have the perfect Derby lead-up on Saturday.

“He’s two from two at The Valley so he likes getting around there even if he does hit that flat spot on the corner,” Young said.

“We just thought we’d just try to take a softer option with him. That means he doesn’t have a gut buster going into the Derby.”

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