Trainers Trent Busuttin and Natalie Young thought better of succumbing to the temptation of running Larimer Street in Victoria’s premier two-year-old race.
The colt had the credentials to contest last month’s Blue Diamond Stakes at Caulfield, but the training and life partners thought the wiser move was to wait.
On Saturday, Larimer Street lines up in the Group Two VRC Sires’ Produce Stakes (1400m) at Flemington.
A debut second to Mr Cashman at The Valley in December was followed by Larimer Street finishing third to Prime Star in the $2 million Inglis Millennium (1100m) at Warwick Farm on February 12.
Run on a heavy track, the race was held over from the previous Saturday and run midweek.
The resulting four-day delay cost Larimer Street a start in the Blue Diamond that was won by stablemate Tagaloa.
Busuttin and Young were concerned with the toll the Inglis Millennium had on Larimer Street.
“He came through the race great but after a 10-day back-up after running on a very heavy track there was a question mark,” Busuttin said.
“If he ran badly you’d be looking for a paddock.
“Although it was hard not to run in the Blue Diamond we thought for the long term and his campaign it was better not to run.
“It looks a nice race for him on Saturday and if he runs well then we can go back up to Sydney.”
Larimer Street holds nominations for the Golden Slipper (1200m) at Rosehill on March 21 along with the ATC Sires’ Produce Stakes (1400m) at Randwick on April 4.
To be ridden by Craig Williams, who leads the Melbourne jockeys’ premiership, Larimer Street is the early favourite at $3.30 ahead of Black Caviar’s relation Ole Kirk ($3.90), an impressive Flemington debut winner.
