Trans-tasman rivalry peaks

The Kiwis are taking on the Aussies in the BMW at Rosehill and it’s shaping up as a classic trans-Tasman clash.

The verbal challenge is being laid down by rival trainers including Kiwi trainer Trent Busuttin now domiciled at Cranbourne in Victoria.

Busuttin and his partner Natalie Young were working out of Cambridge when Tavago went to Sydney last autumn and captured the Australian Derby for his New Zealand owners.

His astute trainers know they have a different horse, a better horse, heading into the A$1.5 million BMW on Saturday.

The Rosehill track was extremely wet for Golden Slipper day and with rain forecast this week, another soft surface appears a sure bet this weekend.

That won’t worry Tavago or the other Kiwi-owned contender, Humidor.

Humidor is was owned outright by former All Black Mark Carter, his brother John and sister Rachel but after 50 per cent was sold a few months ago, the horse went to Darren Weir’s stable at Ballarat from Johno Benner and Hollie Wynyard’s Otaki yard.

Humidor won the Australian Cup last start beating Caulfield Cup winner Jameka while Tavago beat his Sky High Stakes rivals for owners Craig Oldfield, Pam Hatchard, Keith Banks and Ross Taylor after they paid $60,000 for him as a Karaka yearling.

Jameka, Exospheric and Ranvet Stakes winner Our Ivanhowe will give the Kiwis all they want.

‘‘There are four or five genuine chances in the race, but you expect that for $1.5 million,’’ Busuttin said.

‘‘Tavago is going great, he is absolutely flying, he is as good as he’s ever been and Blake Shinn retains the ride.

‘‘It doesn’t worry us about the track, he enjoys the cut out of the ground. ‘‘Everyone wants to tell you their horse isn’t a wet-tracker, but I’m quite happy to have a wettracker going into the next few weeks.’’

Humidor won the Manawatu Classic at Awapuni last season on a heavy track on the same day Tavago was destroying his Australian Derby rivals.

Weir’s racing manager Jeremy Rogers said the 4-year-old heads to Sydney in prime shape, and while he is not concerned by the forecast underfoot conditions, he admitted the step up in trip is something of an unknown.

‘‘He’s in great order, he’s been in good form since [the Australian Cup]. The only little concern is the 2400 metres,’’ Rogers said.

‘‘He had one start at 2400 metres going right handed in New Zealand [in the New Zealand Derby] and didn’t perform so that’s probably the little query we have.

‘‘But he is going a lot better now than he was before he ran in the New Zealand Derby and he certainly couldn’t be any better going into Saturday’s race.’’

Adelaide native Rogers, who spent 10 years in New Zealand at Waikato Stud, jokingly claimed Humidor as an Aussie but relented on the fact the horse is New Zealand-bred and 50 per cent owned by Kiwis..

‘‘It depends how he goes on Saturday but we may look at the Queen Elizabeth Stakes with him.’’

He would clash with champion mare Winx if that option was pursued.

‘‘Otherwise he will go to the paddock and we would look at races like the Cox Plate and Caulfield Cup in the spring.’’

Our Ivanhowe’s co-trainer Lee Freedman isn’t concerned about the Kiwis.

‘‘Good luck if they can beat him [Our Ivanhowe] on heavy ground again,’’ Freedman told RSN in reference to The BMW.

Busuttin was quick to retort. ‘‘As far as wet form goes, well Our Ivanhowe obviously likes it, and Humidor won on a heavy track at Awapuni one day,’’ he said.