Expatriate Kiwi trainers Trent Busuttin and Natalie Young are hoping for a case of third time lucky with their staying three-year-old Thedoctoroflove.
The Cranbourne-based couple have sent the son of So You Think across the Tasman to run in Saturday’s Gr.2 Eagle Technology Avondale Guineas (2100m) ahead of a return to Ellerslie for crack at the $1.25 million Gr.1 Trackside New Zealand Derby (2400m) on Champions Day.
“He travelled over last Thursday and got there on Friday morning and has settled in well at Shaune Ritchie’s place,” Busuttin said.
Another former New Zealand trainer has also made the trip home with the Classic contender.
“Brendon Hawtin, our assistant trainer here, is over there with him and the horse galloped well on Tuesday morning so we’re happy with him,” Busuttin said.
The stable is treading a well-worn path to Ellerslie following two previous Derby assaults with 2017 runner-up Rising Red and last year Interlinked ran third in the Avondale Guineas and fifth in the Derby behind Orchestral.
“Obviously, Rising Red got beaten by Gingernuts and Interlinked ran well in the lead-up and was a bit plain in the Derby,” Busuttin said.
“This horse looks similar to those at this stage so hopefully he runs very well.”
To be partnered by Daniel Moor, Thedoctoroflove placed at his first two starts before he won over 2000m at Flemington and was then sixth over 2100m at Sandown.
“The other day, he got well out of his ground and finished strongly and if he’d held his position and sat midfield, he probably would have gone close to winning that race,” Busuttin said.
“That was against the older horses, so I think his form is certainly going to be competitive.”
Thedoctoroflove was bought out of Mill Park Stud’s draft at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale for A$220,000.
He is the first foal of the Rebel Raider mare Liberty Lover, a half-sister to the multiple stakes winner Dalasan, who placed four times at Group One level including a runner-up finish in the South Australian Derby (2500m).
“This horse is a real mile and a-half type and he doesn’t have a lot of change-up speed, so he’ll need every bit of the 2100m to be competitive, but we’re sure he’ll run well,” Busuttin said.
“I haven’t paid too much attention to all the New Zealand horses, other than the hot favourite (Willydoit) and he looks a special horse, but we’re happy to have a go.”
Busuttin and Young also have a potential Group One three-year-old contender at home with the New Zealand-bred Emphasize, a son of Embellish who has won two of his three starts.
“He runs on Saturday in the Autumn Classic, a Group Three over 1800m, at Caulfield and I’d say he will be a short-priced favourite,” Busuttin said.
“He obviously looks the one to beat and safely through that he’ll probably aim at the Rosehill Guineas (Gr.1, 2000m).”
By Paul Vettise, LOVERACING.NZ News Desk
