A $750,000 staying contest at Caulfield is too difficult a race to bypass for the Trent Busuttin and Natalie Young stable.
Brayden Star heads to the Group 2 Zipping Classic (2400m) at Caulfield on Saturday, although Busuttin concedes the Listed Pakenham Cup (2500m) on December 13 is a more suitable race.
Victorious in the Group 2 Herbert Power Stakes over Saturday’s course and distance in December, Brayden Star then went on to run in the Moonee Valley Gold Cup (2500m) and then the Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2600m) at Flemington during Melbourne Cup week.
Busuttin said the original intention was to head straight to the Pakenham Cup, but a gallop at Cranbourne on Saturday morning convinced the trainers he requires a race beforehand.
“I think the Pakenham Cup is a good race for him, but he does very well the horse,” Busuttin said.
“He had a gallop, and we were in two minds whether we go to the Zipping, probably knowing he’s not a winning chance, or go straight to Pakenham knowing it was softer for him.
“But the way he pulled up after the gallop, after having a week in the paddock after Flemington, he was blowing, so we might have to send him around in the Zipping.
“It’s alright to have a spin around in a $750,000 race and I’m sure he’ll weigh-in and pick up some of it (prize money), but it’s probably just beyond his grasp at weight-for-age.”
Busuttin expects Brayden Star will relish the slightly shorter trip on Saturday and will not be deterred by the potential of a wet track.
He said Saturday’s field is likely to be made up of horses he has competed against in recent runs.
Brayden Star loomed to run a place over 2600m last time, but jockey Tim Clark said the gelding just found the trip a shade far on the heavy ground.
“I thought he was going to charge and run third, but Tim Clark got off him and said the 2600 metres found him out a little bit on the wet track,” Busuttin said.
“We thought he would climb into two miles, but you can only go on what those good riders say, and you have to listen to them.
“He’s won on a heavy 10 in June at Sandown, so a wet track won’t bother him, but it probably made it like a 2800-metre race.”
Longer term, Busuttin said Brayden Star may head across to New Zealand for the Auckland Cup (3200m) in March.
Busuttin and Young took Thedoctoroflove across the Tasman earlier in the year to run second in the New Zealand Derby.
“Even though it goes against what Tim (Clark) said, it is a $750,000 race,” Busuttin said.
“It’s good stake money over there now, it’s just the reverse way.”
