Trent Busuttin looks back fondly on Sangster’s win in the 2011 Victoria Derby and he’s hoping Albarado can do what that horse did and claim the classic.
Albarado Following In Sangster’s Footsteps
Trainer Trent Busuttin will give Albarado, the winner of the Caulfield Classic, the chance to emulate the success of Sangster in the Victoria Derby.
Busuttin, who is originally from New Zealand, said Albarado was raced by almost the same group of owners and he also carried the same colours as Sangster, who won the 2011 edition of the blue riband.
“Sangster was our first good horse when we came here so hopefully this bloke can replicate what he did in a couple of weeks,” Busuttin said.
Under hard riding from Mark Zahra, Albarado had to dig deep in the closing stages to get up for a narrow win.
“Obviously it was a messy race but Zahra summed it up and got going early,” Busuttin said.
”’He still had to do plenty of work going wide around them, so it was a good, gutsy win.”
Busuttin said Albarado would go straight into the Victoria Derby at Flemington on October 31.
Zahra felt Albarado was still raw and had a bit to learn but fought hard over the closing stages.
“He’s green. I hit the front at the 200 (metres) and Redwood Shadow came and challenged him and he found,” Zahra said.
“I think with the blinkers, when he saw the horse coming down the outside he dug in. At the furlong it could have gone either way. He could’ve turned it up.”
The win completed a double for Zahra who took out the first race on Power Scheme.
The Anthony and Sam Freedman stable also celebrated an early double when Chica Fuerte led throughout to win the Ethereal Stakes.
The trainers had been successful earlier in the day with Endanger.
Sam Freedman suggested Chica Fuerte may not go on to the VRC Oaks despite her win.
“The Oaks is probably not on the agenda at this stage. It’s a very testing 2500 metres and we think she’s probably a preparation away still,” Freedman said.
Freedman said the Wakeful Stakes would be a nice grand final for the filly, who he described as bombproof.
Chica Fuerte ($5.50) led throughout to defeat Salto Angel ($19) by 1-3/4 lengths with Star Of Eden ($31) a long head away third.