When a Group 1 race is on the line, trainers are invariably on-course to cheer their charge on.
Trent Busuttin and Natalie Young have Forgot You contesting the Group 1 Northerly Stakes (1800m) at Ascot in Perth on Saturday, but Young will be at Ballarat instead.
Busuttin has travelled to Perth while Young looks after the team at Ballarat which includes Vianarra in the Magic Millions Ballarat 2YO Classic (1000m).
Vianarra is owned by a ‘Lady’s Syndicate’ and a win, or second-place finish on Saturday will be enough to earn the colt a trip to the Magic Millions 2YO Classic (1200m) on the Gold Coast next month.
Young expects a number of the ladies to be present at Ballarat on Saturday, hence her decision to stay home and head to the races.
“We’ve drawn 10, but I thought his last run at Ballarat was super,” Young said.
“His last 50 metres, he really hit the line strong.
“He’s a horse that is probably looking for that little bit further, but it’s a nice race to try and get him into the Magic Millions for the lady owners and chase that bonus.
“A win, or running second, gets him in and the pressure is off, then he can have a run that way around.
“There’s a couple of races towards the end of the month and there’s also a race the week before at the Gold Coast, but we’ll get through Saturday first.”
Busuttin and Young have won the past two editions of the Ballarat Magic Millions contest.
Cusack won in 2021 when the race was run right-handed while Sunsource scored last year in horrendous conditions when the race was run the traditional way.
Cusack, who was owned by a ‘Lady’s Syndicate’ collected almost $150,000 in bonuses for his owners despite finishing down the track in the 2022 Magic Millions 2YO Classic and then earlier this year in the Magic Millions 3YO Guineas.
“We’re hoping for a third straight win on Saturday,” Young said.
“Everyone is pretty excited. They’re a good bunch of ladies and we’ve ended up picking up a piece of the lady’s bonus in the last couple of years.
“It’s a great incentive and it helps pay their way.
“Hopefully we can get him up there and give some new ladies a fun week at Magic Millions.”
