Derby trial for Rising Red today
WELLINGTON: Australian 3yrs old Rising Red will be on trial for the $1 million New Zealand Derby when he races at Sandown, in Melbourne, today.
Rising Red has opened as a $2.50 favourite for the benchmark 70 2100m at Sandown and a good run would confirm a start in the Derby (2400m) at Ellerslie on Saturday week.
The Redwood gelding, who races in the same colours as Rising Romance, has had a win and four seconds from seven starts and is trained by Trent Busuttin and Natalie Young, who transferred their team from Cam bridge to
Cranbourne last year.
‘‘He’s probably under the odds a bit at
$2.50, because he’s up against some tough older horses [at
Sandown],’’
Busuttin said.
‘‘But we are definitely looking at the [NZ] Derby and if he goes a good race and finishes in the top four, he will probably go over.’’
Rising Red was having his first run for seven weeks when he finished a luckless second over 1600m at Moonee Valley on February 10. He had to come from eighth at the 400m and was beaten a long neck by Farson in a benchmark 70 3yrold race.
‘‘He got held up and should have won,’’ Busuttin said.
Rising Red won a maiden 1620m at Donald in the spring and followed with middledistance placings at Werribee and Sale, before having a let up.
‘‘He has to run well this week before we finalise plans and it will be all over if he doesn’t perform [at Sandown] but we have always had the Derby in mind,’’ Busuttin said.
‘‘He’s not a superstar but he will run 2400m, a wet track wouldn’t worry him and it’s a milliondollar race. He’s an improving horse and I could see him running in the top five [at Ellerslie].’’
Rising Red was at $61 in the Derby market yesterday but would shorten significantly if he runs well today.
Busuttin has shown he can prepare a horse to win a Derby and has an outstanding record with stayers overall.
He has won a Victoria Derby with Sangster and the 2016 Australian Derby with Tavago. Sangster also won an Auckland Cup and an Avondale Cup and Busuttin prepared Six O’clock News to win a Wellington Cup and a City of Auckland Cup.