In a vote of confidence, Dylan Gibbons has delayed an end of season holiday in order to partner emerging stayer Thebudgiesmugla in the Caloundra Cup.
Gibbons was due to take an overseas break following Saturday’s Tattersall’s Tiara meeting at Eagle Farm but postponed it once trainer Bjorn Baker’s racing manager, Luke Hilton, confirmed Thebudgiesmugla would head to the Sunshine Coast feature.
“I pushed my holiday back to ride him in the Caloundra Cup once Luke Hilton mentioned it,” Gibbons said.
“I came in Tuesday morning and galloped him, and I was amazed how he’d come through his last run. After a 2400 metre run, he galloped close enough after that, and just felt amazing.
“As long as he can hold that into the race he’ll run well.”
Thebudgiesmugla has worked his way through the grades since arriving from New Zealand last year, winning four of his eight starts for Baker and landing his first stakes success in the Winter Cup (2400m) with Gibbons in the saddle.
The gelding has yet to taste defeat over the 2400m journey, and if he can maintain that perfect record at Caloundra, Gibbons believes it will provide an ideal launch pad to bigger targets next season, as it did with Half Yours, who won the Caloundra Cup 12 months ago before returning in the spring to claim the Caulfield-Melbourne Cups double.
“If he can take care of business next Saturday, they can aim higher with him,” Gibbons said.
“The staying ranks do thin out a bit in Australia, and I think he’s the right horse to continue going through the grades.
“He has ticked the 2400 metre box a few times and won in Listed grade, so hopefully he can start to step up and take on the better horses.”
Thebudgiesmugla’s six wins have been on ground ranging from good to heavy, and Gibbons says that versatility is crucial given the unpredictable weather in Queensland this winter.
“The wetter the better, but he can do it on top of the ground,” he said
“He’s got a great racing style, and he is flying at the minute.”
