A trip to the Gold Coast for the R. Listed Magic Millions 2YO Classic looms large on the horizon for bold debut winners on both sides of the Tasman on Saturday.
At Ballarat, the Trent Busuttin and Natalie Young-trained Cusack (Not A Single Doubt) overcame a wide draw to kick off his career on the perfect note in the $250,000 Magic Millions Ballarat 2YO Classic.
Trent Busuttin
Ridden by Craig Newitt, the chestnut colt slid forward to sit outside the front-runner Epic Centre (Starspangledbanner) before taking the lead with 200 metres to run. Cover Star (Star Witness) produced a strong finish down the outside, but Cusack dug deep and held on to win by 0.1l.
“He tried to cow-kick me (in the mounting yard),” Newitt said. “He’s really quiet at home, so I was a bit surprised. I said to the guys that if you didn’t know him, you’d be worried about getting on him.
“But once he set foot on the track, he was a kid’s pony. He’s the ultimate professional, and he’s got the ability to go with it.”
He’s (Cusack) the ultimate professional, and he’s got the ability to go with it.” - Craig Newitt
Busuttin Racing paid $200,000 to buy Cusack from this year’s Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale, and Saturday’s winning debut banked $139,700 in stakes for an enthusiastic all-female group of 20 owners.
Even greater riches could await in the $2 million Magic Millions 2YO Classic on January 15, including the $500,000 Racing Women’s Bonus, distributed among the first four finishers owned or leased by all-female connections.
“A bunch of ladies have got together and bought the horse,” Busuttin said. “They’ll be chasing that ladies’ bonus up on the Gold Coast, which is certainly going to be a lot harder. But he’s basically got his ticket in the race, so all being well we’ll go up there.
Cusack's connections
“It’s good to get new owners involved and I’m rapt for them. He’ll have a little break now, and then we'll get him racing around that way and get him up there.”
Bred and sold by Fernrigg Farm, Cusack is the first winner and second foal to race for the two-race-winner Belle Que (Street Hero {USA}), who comes from the family of Group 1 winners Criterion (NZ) (Sebring) and Comin’ Through (Fastnet Rock), along with the Group 1 placegetter and sire Bull Point.
Sky's the limit
Over the ditch, Te Akau Racing’s Bright Blue Sky (Fastnet Rock) brought a big reputation into her debut appearance in Saturday’s Listed FastTrack Insurance 2YO S. at Te Rapa.
Bought by David Ellis and Andrew Williams Bloodstock (FBAA) for $600,000 from Coolmore Stud's draft at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale, the filly had made an enormous impression at the trials and in her track gallops at Matamata – so much so that top jockey Opie Bosson made the commitment to get down to 54.5kg for the first time since he won aboard Probabeel (NZ) (Savabeel) in the R. Listed Karaka Million 3YO Classic at Ellerslie in January 2020.
Bright Blue Sky as a yearling | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
Bosson’s efforts were duly rewarded with an easy 2.25l victory over Sacred Satono (NZ) (Satono Aladdin {Jpn}) and 6l debut winner Mascarinto (NZ) (Per Incanto {USA}).
“When I rode her in trackwork, I didn’t want to miss out on raceday,” Bosson said. “So I told David (Ellis) and Jamie (Richards) that I would make the 54.5. I actually did it quite easily in the end.
“She is still learning, she was on and off the bit, but that can happen on raceday when they go a bit quicker. I just liked the way she balanced up underneath me, and she went to the line with her ears back, so she was having a real go.
“I just liked the way she (Bright Blue Sky) balanced up underneath me, and she went to the line with her ears back, so she was having a real go.” - Opie Bosson
“I followed the first two, because I thought they were the two speed horses. I didn’t want to get caught up in behind them, so I popped off the rail and while she took a little bit to balance up, she then changed legs and won quite nicely in the end.”
A daughter of the winning mare Blue Blue Sky (Lonhro), Bright Blue Sky comes from the extended family of Australian Derby winner Tavago (NZ) (Tavistock {NZ}) and Tatt's Tiara winner La Sizeranne (NZ) (Stravinsky {USA}).
Trainer Jamie Richards was relieved to see the filly live up to the pre-race hype.
Bright Blue Sky winning the Listed 2YO S. | Image courtesy of NZ Racing Desk
“A bit of relief there, since she has a pretty big rap on her,” he said. “She hasn’t put a foot wrong the whole way through, and first time to the races she is a stakes winner, so you can’t argue with that.
“She will go home now and have a few days out, and then I’ll have a talk to the boss and work out where to next. The dream would be to get her back to the Gold Coast for the Magic Millions, although we don’t have to make any decisions today.
“The sky’s the limit, and we’re looking forward to where she is going to end up.”
