Sangster (NZ) and Hugh Bowman won the $1.5m, Group 1, AAMI Victoria Derby (2500m) at Flemington on Saturday to land young Cambridge trainer Trent Busuttin his first Group 1 victory, and complete a plan set some time ago for the Savabeel gelding.
Busuttin, 32, the son of former leading New Zealand trainer Paddy, has campaigned Sangster in Australia since August, first in Sydney and then Melbourne, and while results were close the major prizes were elusive, if by narrow margins.
However, on Saturday the planning, which had included engaging senior rider Bowman for the Derby ride, all came together and Sangster took the race from the fast closing Induna and Kerrin McEvoy.
The race was full of incident from the first corner with Perfect Punch racing very greenly for Clare Lindop and carting Induna wide as the field turned for the top straight. The incident was crucial in the outcome of the race with McEvoy having to then settle in the rear of the field.
Niagara and Nash Rawiller had come out very quickly from barrier 16 and quickly crossed to lead with Manawanui and Glyn Schofield close behind. Rawiller had fired up Niagara to make the cross and he then raced quickly down the back straight.
Sangster and Bowman had taken up a position three wide in mid-field from barrier seven and from there he waited for the field to start the long bottom turn. Bowman was not concerned about being wide, and he was five wide off the corner.
Niagara felt the pressure and faded while Manawanui was quickly headed by Sangster with 300m to run. Manawanui tried hard to stay with Sangster but he was finding the final 200m a struggle. Sangster came back in across Manawanui forcing Schofield to change course but Sangster was travelling too well.
Meanwhile McEvoy had gone wide as well from the rear of the field and he set off down the length of the straight, but they had given away 6L to the leaders. Induna ran bravely, but the task was immense, and Sangster's break was sufficient to have a head at the line.
Induna (Elusive Quality) was 1 1/4L ahead of Sabrage (Charge Forward) and Damien Oliver with Zabeelionaire (NZ) fourth, Isopach fifth and Manawanui sixth.
The time was 2.40.33 on the Dead 5 track with the final 600m in 37.25. Sangster paid $14.80 on STAB and $15 on TAB Sportsbet's Fixed Odds.
“We set this day up six months ago and for it to pay off, it's a dream result," said Busuttin.
“It is fantastic, I cannot describe it.
“Since we set the horse for the Derby everything has gone a dream and it is just unbelievable that we have got there and done the job.
“We were three deep the whole way. I thought we were no hope at the 600m. Hughy (Bowman) said before the race that he did not want to hit the front until the 200m but he was in front at the turn.
“I did not want to yell until the 100m and as soon as I did Induna came out after us and I thought 'here we go again'.
“I just want to thank all the people that have helped us along the way, the guys up in Sydney, blokes like Reg Elliot that have given us galloping mates, all the vets and all the farriers. All my team back home," he said.
“He travelled beautifully in the run. My plan was to go back worse than midfield to settle him but he jumped well and I thought we would go forward. He got keen and I re-elected and tried to settle him but I was really happy with where I was in the run," said Bowman.
“The horse in front of me just punctured at the 600m and I did not want to come out from behind him but I had no option. He just took me into the race and I hit the front a long way from home but I had not really asked him for an effort.
“When he got to about 100 (metres) out he started to lose his way a bit and I was really worried because he was on his last legs.
“I just want to thank Trent (Busuttin), Tommy and all the connections for giving me the opportunity to ride the horse.
“I knew they would figure because I thought it was an even race. I was not surprised to see the Darley horse (Induna) loom up to me and because his Geelong win was excellent.
“It's a race where I think we'll see these horses go on in the next year.
“I must thanks Bjorn and Murray Baker a bit there for helping push me for the ride but the horse did the job and I am delighted to be a part of it.
“I wasn't looking at the screen this year, put it that way," he commented about his win on Lion Tamer last year.
Bowman's winning wave last year cost him $1,000 in the RVL stewards' room. It was a seriously big wave in pouring rain, but this year he was very busy trying to lift Sangster across the line, which he accomplished, and without losing any of the riding percentage.
Sangster was not wanted as a yearling being passed in at the New Zealand Bloodstock Select Sale at Karaka, but he was purchased for $19,000 at the Ready To Run Sale. The Australian campaign had previously yielded a stakes place at Warwick Farm and third in the Group 1 Spring Champion Stakes at Randwick. A close finish was next in the Group 3 Norman Robinson Stakes over 2000m at Caulfield on October 15th when Sabrage ran him down.
The gelding is out of the Spectrum mare Quinta Special and he is owned by MJ Bradley, MC Fenwick, KD Greenlees, TG Heptinstall, D Kneebone, KJ O'Brien and LW and TD Stewart. The $900,000 first stake for the Derby win added to his previous earnings of $105,851 after eight starts, three wins and three placings.
