This Saturday’s Tour d’Horse Sprint at Caulfield is not the race Bustling was purchased for, but Mick Price and his co-trainer Michael Kent Jnr are beyond being picky with the former Western Australian.
The 1000-metre benchmark 84 worth $130,000 will be the four-year-old’s first start in almost 20 months.
Bustling’s only start for Price and Kent since being purchased for big money was the Group 2 Run To The Rose in September 2024, when he finished eighth of nine, after which he has battled a myriad of problems.
Saturday’s race is a modest target considering the son of Frosted was bought to target The Everest, but Price is just happy to see him back.
“He had some bone problems and just assorted different niggles,” Price said.
“We keep getting him up, then we keep giving him time, we keep getting him up then we keep giving him time.
“But everyone’s done a good job with him and he’s now as right as we can have him.”
The Run To The Rose was Bustling’s first unplaced run after his previous five starts generated four wins, including the Group 2 Karrakatta Plate (1200m), Group 3 WA Sires Produce Stakes (1400m) and Listed Perth Stakes (1100m), and a second placing.
Preparations for his return have included a third placing in an 800m Cranbourne jumpout on April 6 and an 850m trial win on Caulfield’s Heath track on April 23.
Mark Zahra was aboard for both of those workouts and will take the reins in Saturday’s event, for which Bustling heads betting at $4.40.
Price was not thrilled with all the rain around in Victoria this week and said Bustling’s chances would be enhanced if the Caulfield track improves from the Soft 6 it was rated on Thursday morning.
“He’s a happy horse, he’s big, strong and he’s grown a lot since his two-year-old days,” Price said.
“He is one horse who hates the wet, but he is ready to run well.”
