Trent Busuttin confesses to mild surprise that Main Stage is the new Victoria
Derby favourite, given the trainer ranks stablemate Sully just as highly, both Kiwi
bred three year-olds sired by the supremely talented son of Dalakhani.With Royal Symphony and Cliff's Edge both not heading to Saturday's Flemington 2500m feature, Main Stage has taken up top billing with bookmakers at $4.50.
Busuttin says the galloper part-owned by Richmond AFL premiership hero Dusty Martin can win the Derby although he concedes he was disappointed by his last run when he finished third, five lengths behind Cliff's Edge in the Ladbrokes Classic (2000m) at Caulfield.
However the trainer says stablemate Sully, which is on the fourth line of Derby betting at $7, is just as much of a winning chance in the Group I.
Adding to Busuttin's confidence is Sully will be ridden by three-time Victoria Derby winning jockey Hugh Bowman who claimed the race on Lion Tamer (2010), Sangster (2011) and Polanski (2013).
"Sully ran third behind Ace High in the Spring Champion Stakes and that looks pretty good form to me," Busuttin told Racenet.
"That is a race that generally stacks up, and Hugh Bowman knows a thing or two about winning a Derby.
"I think it is a very even Derby field.
"I honestly can't split Main Stage and Sully and I think a lot will come down to the barrier draw."
Kiwi breds have won two of the past three Victoria Derbies and five of the last eight.
Reliable Man has 13 entries in the 2017 NZB Ready to Run Sale of 2YO's including the full sister to Main Stage, see his draft here.
