It might be a relatively low key return for Trent Busuttin and Natalie Young trained Alder at Flemington on Saturday, when he lines up in the Kirin Ichiban Trophy over 1600m, but it does represent a significant moment in the chestnut’s career as it has been all of fourteen months since the six-year-old was sidelined with suspensory issues.
His biggest claim to fame before that setback was a third place finish behind Auguste Rodin in the Group 2 Champion Juvenile at Leopardstown in Ireland in his third career start.
Auguste Rodin would go on to win both the Epsom Derby and Irish Derby as well as the Breeders’ Cup Turf at Santa Anita.
While racing far from that level of ability, Alder did win both of his races either side of that loss to Auguste Rodin and added a Listed race placing after that, giving him a race record at that time (in April 2023) of two wins and a Group 2 and a Listed race placing from five starts … looking like he was on track for a promising career.
Alder, a son of Australia, was then imported into Australia where he did not see any race action for fourteen months.
When the Busuttin / Young team ultimately got the Australian chapter of Alder’s career underway, he had a five race campaign from July 13, 2024 to November 23, 2024 with that set of results including two runner-up finishes.
His suspensory issues then put Alder back on the sidelines … for the second time for a fourteen month period … which means that when he goes out onto the track at Flemington on Saturday, he will have lost twenty-eight months out of a last thirty-three month period of possible race time.
“He’s had a long period of time off and had a long slow build-up with three trials, so he has come back well,” co-trainer Busittin told The Advertiser.
“He’s as ready as he can be and will run a cheeky race, but we’ll see him improve once he gets up over 2000m.
“He was bought with a good record. He hasn’t had any luck so far, but he’s certainly got the ability.”
