Shaun Mcgruddy and David Harrison have combined with Buster Bash thrashing the field in the Group 2 Perth Cup, with all involved, trainer, jockey and horse winning their maiden Perth Cup.
After a fall marred the race two weeks ago, 16 of the runners turned up again on Saturday to do it all over again, and the five-year-old son of Trade Fair showed that he was a level above, running away with a dominant 4.2 length victory over Stafford's Lad and Pure Devotion.
Joseph Azzorpardi was unable to ride Buster Bash in the Perth Cup as he was suspended, giving Shaun McGruddy, who was set to ride Queen Alina before she was scratched, the opportunity to ride the eventual race favourite in the Group 2 feature.
Buster Bash jumped as the online bookmaker's favourite at $5, after continual backing by punters throughout the week.
2023 Perth Cup Replay – Buster Bash
Post-race David Harrison spoke about McGruddy's ride, explaining that he didn't really know what the jock was doing when he took off and full bore at the 600m mark.
“Well, I thought I hope you know what you're doing Shaun (McGruddy), because I said I reckon he'll outsprint them if they don't stretch them out early.” Harrison explained.
“When he let go and went flat-out at the 600 (metres), I thought I hope you know what you're doing, but he did and he knew what he had under him and he won really well.
“He's a little champ isn't he? The further he goes the further he likes it. Might put him in the Sydney to Hobart, I think.
As for his name, Buster Bash, well that comes from one of Harrison's great mates who passed.
“He was the toughest bloke, I said I'll name a horse after you every year because you're tough and you're trying to fight this motor-neuron and it's a beautiful name for a horse, Buster Bash.”
Shaun McGruddy spoke post-race about how he missed the first running of the Cup last week, but as it was, he then picked up the ride on the eventual winner, which is the biggest win of his career.
“Either way I thought had picked up a good ride, but Queen Alina went a bit foot-sore and they couldn't get her back in.” McGruddy said about his initial ride in the race.
“I didn't mind following “Jagsy” on Cockney Crew, but I was in two minds whether to stay there, but as rough as it was, Bad Wolf was on its girth so I got out and whipped around them.
“When I got him into the three-wide running line he was only three deep momentarily because he crossed them and got to the rail.”
When he was asked about his salute over the line, McGruddy explained that this win meant a lot to him as a jockey.
“This is probably my biggest win, to be fair, I suppose in a lot of aspects it was probably the way I was gonna win it, the Perth Cup, by a pick-up ride.”