Stable attacking another Group One

The Group One attack is on again for Trent Busuttin and Natalie Young this weekend and that might not be the end of it this season.

The Cambridge trainers will be represented in the Gr.1 Manco Easter Stakes at Ellerslie on Saturday by Mabeel, who is a leading prospect after his impressive last start win in the Listed Fairdale – Goodwood Studs Flying Handicap (1400m) at Awapuni early this month.

This will be Busuttin and Young’s fourth Group One bid this month and if Mabella succeeds he may get one more shot at the top grade before a spell.

“There’s a chance we could look at the Stradbroke in Brisbane,” said Busuttin. “But he’d have to win on Saturday to go for it. I’ve discussed it with Cherry Taylor, who manages the horse for the owner Deborah Ho.”

The Gr.1 A$1.5 million Stradbroke Handicap is at Eagle Farm on June 11 and whatever happens on Saturday Busuttin and Young have already received good news from the Mabeel camp.

“They’ve agreed to let us take him to Melbourne to be part of our team when we shift over there,” said Busuttin. “That’s a big kick for us. There will be a lot of options for a horse like him over there.

“If we don’t go to the Stradbroke with him he will spell then we could look at something like the Memsie Stakes in the spring for him. Either way, he’s got to win on Saturday and I think he can.

“His work has been good and I think he’ll be very hard to beat.

Mabella has won half of his 12 starts with four wins this season. His biggest win came in the Gr. 3 Anniversary Handicap (1600m) at Trentham last January when ridden by Sam Spratt, who was also in the saddle in his last win and will again be aboard on Saturday.

Busuttin and Young have never been afraid to take on the best in Australia. They showed that with Sangster, whose four Group One wins included the Victoria Derby, and again a couple of times this month.

The same day that Mabella sealed his Easter start the partners celebrated a Group One highlight when Tavago won the Australian Derby and came so close to a trans-Tasman Group One double when Sicario finished a close second in the Manawatu Sires’ Produce Stakes.

Buoyed by Tavago’s win, Busuttin and Young had a crack at the Gr.1 Champagne Stakes at Randwick last Saturday with Sicario. Racing as El Sicario in Australia, the Bullbars two-year-old over-raced in the early stages, tearing off to a huge lead, and ruined any chance he had.

“He bolted for the rider,” said Busuttin. “He was over the top. It was disappointing because if he raced up to his Sires Produce form I thought he would be a good chance.

“He’s out for a spell now and will go down to Melbourne in June and join our team there.

“When he comes back we’ll look for a midweek maiden for a soft kill for him. He’s going to make a lovely three-year-old.”

Tavago is also enjoying a well-earned spell and will have some beach work before joining the Busuttin – Young team at Cranbourne.

“He’ll have a month pre-training at Troy Corsten’s beach property and come into our stable in early July to get ready for the big races in the spring,” said Busuttin.

The Caulfield and Melbourne Cups will be on the programme for Tavago, as was the case with last year’s Australian Derby winner Mongolian Khan, trained by Murray Baker and Andrew Forsman.

“I know it’s a big call but Mongolian Khan did it last year when he won the Caulfield Cup,” said Busuttin. “There’s a heap of improvement in this horse.”

Tavago’s Australian Derby win obviously came as a timely boost for the Busuttin – Young stable with their planned move to Victoria.

“The response has been great,” he said. “We’ve attracted new owners and we’re fortunate to be able to take over our good horses, too. We’ve also picked up a lot of well-bred yearlings from the sales.”