The $300,000 Group II Moonee Valley Vase (2040m) proved an easy watch for Trent Busuttin and Natalie Young, but not so for punters as for a long time it looked as if the stable’s $101 chance Commander Harry had the measure of the short-priced favourite Forgot You.
With the all-conquering Daniel Moor in the saddle, Forgot You edged past Linda Meech on the stubborn Commander Harry in the final stages.
The Victoria Derby bound son of Savabeel defeated Commander Harry (Reliable Man) by a half-head with a further one and a half lengths back to Jungle Magnate (Tarzino) in third.
Purchased by Busuttin Racing for $330,000 from the Ohukia Lodge draft at the 2020 Inglis Ready 2 Race Sale, Forgot You advances his record three wins and two thirds from eight starts with earnings of $495,350.
“We’ve got a share of Forgot You, so I was kind of glad that he got the bob in there, but it was a good ride by Linda Meech on Commander Harry,” Young said.
“But Forgot You, he always leaves us with our hearts in our mouths, and it is good to have two live Derby contenders for next Saturday.
“It was a little bit of a different week for Forgot You. We had to take him to Werribee (vets) on Monday, and we galloped him on Tuesday. He missed out on his beach trip this week but it has paid off.
“Great ride by Daniel. He’s flying at the moment with three Group 1s and great for those colours. They add a leg with those colours on them.
“An Inglis Ready To Race horse, we can go back there on Tuesday and put our hand up with more confidence.”
Bred by Waikato Stud’s Garry Chittick, Forgot You comes from one of Waikato Stud’s most revered families.
He is the second foal and second winner out of Simply You. A winning daughter of O’Reilly, Simply You is a three-quarter sister to stakes-winners Escadaire, Bonny O’Reilly and Group II winner Rare Insight, dam of Group 1 Coolmore Classic winner Steps In Time.
Simply You is out of Group 1 winner Glamour Puss a half-sister to Group 1 Doncaster Hcp, and Group 1 George Ryder Stakes winner Vision and Power.
Simply You missed in 2019, and her 2020 filly foal by Savabeel died.
The daughter of O’Reilly was covered by Super Seth last spring.
