Rising Red’s second to Gingernuts in the New Zealand Derby has boosted his trainers’ confidence heading to the Australian equivalent.
The Trent Busuttin and Natalie Young-trained Rising Red is an acceptor in Saturday’s Tulloch Stakes at Rosehill but is more likely to head straight to the Group One Australian Derby on Saturday week.
He will meet Gingernuts who was a dominant winner of Saturday’s Rosehill Guineas at his first Australian start.
Busuttin said he would make a decision on the Tulloch after Rising Red galloped on Thursday.
“If we thought he won’t need the run he can just go straight into the Derby which is a big possibility, but it doesn’t hurt to nominate them in case,” Busuttin said.
“The form stacks up,” Busuttin said.
“I probably didn’t want to see Gingernuts win as well as he did last Saturday. He’s obviously going to be the one to beat in the Derby, but it franks the New Zealand Derby form for sure.”
Busuttin also has Anaheim on an Australian Derby path and he finished fourth in Saturday’s Rosehill Guineas after tracking Gingernuts to the home turn.
“He’s one who doesn’t want a wet track,” Busuttin said.
“He tacked on the back of Gingernuts and was travelling super at the 600 metre mark in the Rosehill Guineas and Hugh Bowman thought he was probably on the winner.
“He said he went to go and his wheels were spinning and he just couldn’t get traction in that ground. While he hit the line well, he didn’t enjoy it.”
Busuttin is resigned to not getting a dry track but is hoping Derby day isn’t as wet as Rosehill Guineas day.
“If it could be a soft track or something, he might get through it better.”
Gingernuts is at $4 with Sports Bet for the Australian Derby ahead of Randwick Guineas winner and Rosehill Guineas runner-up Inference at $4.60.
Anaheim is at $8 and Rising Red is $11 with Busuttin and Young looking for back-to-back Australian Derbys after Tavago last year.
Saturday’s Tulloch Stakes has 13 acceptors including Victoria Derby winner Prized Icon who is the $3.50 favourite.
