Ask Steven Parnham to name a horse he knows inside out and it's a fair chance Bustler will be the first word he blurts out.
Steven Parnham has ridden the Railway Stakes winner in 16 of his 18 starts, not to mention in several trials.
So when he says Bustler is going well and will present at Ascot on Saturday ready to run a big race in the Group 3 Eurythmic Stakes (1400m), it pays to listen.
Countering that however is the 59.5kg equal topweight and a difficult barrier (13) in a high-quality affair.
"He's come back very well this time in, had a nice lengthy spell from his Melbourne campaign and it's been the first time that he's a had a decent time out since his three-year-old campaign," Parnham said.
"He really has flourished in that time and it seems to be a lot stronger and more mature.
"He's going very well so I think he'll run a top race. The barrier draw does hurt a little bit in terms of where he's going to have to settle in the run and the weight that he's going to have to carry as well too.
"He probably can't do a stack of work in the run and expect to finish off so I'll map out a bit of a plan once I have a closer look at the race.
"I would say that we ride him comfortable early and see him finish off strongly with the view in mind that he's going to improve each run this preparation and his main goals will be the Railway Stakes and the run after that.
"I would say he's more forward this year than he was 12 months ago in the Eurythmic ... I would like to see him have a kinder run than he did last year."
Bustler last raced in the autumn when unplaced in the Group 2 Blamey Stakes (1600m) at Flemington.
His recent trial for Parnham was sound.
On face value it didn't appear flash, but the son of Playing God is not known as a trial star. He was beaten over three lengths behind Baby Paris over an unsuitable 1000m, but most importantly derived good fitness and proved to his biggest ally that he was in excellent order.
The campaign is likely to contain the Group 2 Lee-Steere Stakes (1400m) early next month, before the $1.5 millions Railway Stakes (1600m) and the Pinnacles finale, the $1.5 million Gold Rush (1400m) in mid-December.
"It's great to have him back and he's in excellent order, it's very exciting," Parnham said.
