Champion jockey Glen Boss has declared two-year-old Bugatty a future Group-class sprinter after the colt raced into Blue Diamond calculations at Flemington.
Sent out a short-priced favourite for Saturday’s Better Beyond Plate (1000m) on the back of a debut second to Chivalry at Moonee Valley on December 28, Bugatty ($1.75) responded strongly after being challenged at the 200m mark to defeat debutant Ducal Castle ($6) by a length.
MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - 11/01/2014: Ducal Castle winning the Better Beyond Plate at Flemington ridden by Glen Boss and trained by Michael, Wayne & John Hawkes - (photo by Steven Dowden/Race Horse Photos Australia)
The David Hayes-trained Lotion ($7) was another 1-1/2 lengths away third.
Next month’s Group One Blue Diamond Stakes could be on the agenda for Bugatty who is trained in partnership by John, Michael and Wayne Hawkes.
But Boss expects next season will be when the winner is at his best.
“He felt like, when he’s three, he’s going to be a Group sprinter. That’s what he felt like to me,” Boss said.
“He’s got quality to say he’s going to be a Group horse.”
A decision on a Blue Diamond start will be left to John Hawkes who was at the Gold Coast on Saturday to watch Invisible compete in the $2 million Magic Millions Classic.
“Hawkesy is very good. If he (Bugatty) goes to the Blue Diamond he’s got all the attributes,” Boss said.
“He’s on-speed, he’s got good sectionals and he’s got a great attitude and he kicks when you ask him. He’s got a lot going for him at this stage.”
Bugatty sat on the speed in the straight-track sprint and Boss said he knew he would fight strongly, even when the Peter Moody-trained Ducal Castle mounted his challenge.
“I would suggest the first two horses to come out of that race might be very good horses,” Boss said.
“It (Ducal Castle) came up to me like it was going to go past me, but I always had a good kick in my locker.”
