Trainer Trent Busuttin’s outward demeanour on race day is that of someone who is calm and relaxed.
But recently Busuttin has been a little on edge as the Caulfield Cup, run on Saturday with a winner’s cheque of $3 million, draws closer.
Busuttin trains with partner Natalie Young and prepares Mirage Dancer, a former member of English trainer Sir Michael Stoute’s stable.
Mirage Dancer runs for the first time for Busuttin and Young in Saturday’s Caulfield Cup (2400m).
Busuttin travelled back and forth to England after stable clients bought Mirage Dancer and he has spent countless hours at Werribee racecourse where the horse spent two weeks undergoing quarantine.
Mirage Dancer moved to Busuttin and Young’s Cranbourne stable last Saturday and they have gone about putting the finishing touches to the six-year-old’s 2019 Caulfield Cup bid.
Busuttin says everything has gone smoothly, however he would have liked a better draw than 13.
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Mirage Dancer will start from barrier nine if all four emergencies fail to gain a start.
“I don’t want to get toey,” Busuttin said.
“I want to go in with low expectations rather than high hopes, but I really think we’ve got a horse with a chance in the race,.
“I’ve been told by people that know the form that we’ve got the right horse for the race if he turns up in the right condition.
“I think he has turned up in the right condition, but you don’t know until the day.
“The horse is fantastic and it’s really exciting for the stable.”
Although Mirage Dancer has been at Busuttin and Young’s Cranbourne stable for less than a week, Busuttin said the six-year-old had settled in and was a lovely horse to deal with.
“He’s a six-year-old stallion but the way he goes about things you’d think he’s an eight-year-old gelding,” Busuttin said.
“He’s got a great temperament, he’s a very impressive horse and hopefully we’ll see if that translates to race day.
“We’ve done our part and it’s up to Benny Melham.
“We’ve got a big-race rider on board and he’s one of the form jockeys at the moment.
“We’re happy with the jockey, happy with the horse.”
