Cover image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
Natalie Young won the 2011 Victoria Derby as a Kiwi raider with a super tough gelding named Sangster (NZ) (Savabeel) - and believes she can fly the New Zealand flag proudly once again in the Victoria Derby at Flemington on Saturday.
Young, who now trains alongside Trent Busuttin at Cranbourne, will have Keeneland (Almanzor {Fr}) – a horse carrying the name of the world-famous thoroughbred auction house and racetrack in the US – line up in this year’s edition of the Group 1 3-year-old staying feature over 2500 metres.
Natalie Young | Image courtesy of Racing Photos
She will be among a strong contingent of conditioners born in New Zealand, or Kiwi-trained/bred horses, who are expected to do well on Derby Day.
And the training duo is confident their $9.50 winning chance – with Hugh Bowman in the saddle – can push $4.20 favourite El Castello (Castelvecchio) all the way in the feature worth $2 million.
Last start, Keeneland finished third in a small field in the G3 Sportsbet Classic over 2000 metres at Caulfield on October 19.
Keeneland (NZ) | Image courtesy of Racing Photos
Young believes Keeneland – bought for NZ$80,000 by Andrew Campbell Bloodstock (BAFNZ)/Busuttin Racing/Mr T Heptinstall from Kiltannon Stables at the 2024 New Zealand Bloodstock (NZB) National Yearling Sale – can only improve off that performance on Saturday.
“This has always been his focus. He’s won at Flemington in the Super Impose Stakes, and then when we stepped him up to the Sportsbet Classic at Caulfield he copped a wet track, which he didn’t like too much,” she told The Thoroughbred Report.
“He didn’t really handle those conditions, but he really only got beaten half a length. So, I think he’s definitely up to this class.”
“This (G1 VRC Derby) has always been his (Keeneland's) focus... he really only got beaten half a length (in the Caulfield Classic). So, I think he’s definitely up to this class.” - Natalie Young
By French Group 1 staying champion Almanzor (Fr) – who has produced 21 stakes winners – Young believes Keeneland has the right pedigree to perform in front of a big crowd on Saturday.
“I think he’ll definitely see out the trip of 2500 metres no problem being an Almanzor, and he’s been a horse the past couple of runs he’s just really bounced through those races and held his condition really nicely,” she said.
Keeneland was bred by Kinsale Bloodstock Ltd and is out of Savabeel Star (NZ) (Savabeel), who has produced one other stakes winner, Stella Di Paco (NZ) (Paco Boy {Ire}).
In a sentimental touch, Bowman – who rode Sangster to victory in the 2011 Derby – will don the same yellow-and-blue silks aboard Keeneland from barrier 11.
Sangster (NZ) | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
Sangster courageously held off Induna (Elusive Quality {USA}) to win this race 13 years ago.
Keeneland's potential caught Young's eye early
Young saw plenty of potential in Keeneland after she first laid eyes on him.
“This guy was a bit narrow and light when we first purchased him as a yearling. He just looked like he had the frame that he could really fill into and furnish into a nice staying horse going forward,” she said.
“He’s a nice-looking horse and I think he’ll run really well on Saturday. It’s not a bad field with the favourite (El Castello) and Red Aces, but this preparation he really hasn’t done anything wrong.
“He’s bounced through it and come through it well.”
Keeneland (NZ) as a yearling | Image courtesy of New Zealand Bloodstock
Including Sangster’s Derby victory 13 years ago, it has been no fluke that Young and Busuttin have seen their horses consistently compete in the event.
They had Sunsets (Dundeel {NZ}) and Kosgei – So We Sing (HK) (The Autumn Sun) finish third and fourth, respectively, in last year’s Victoria Derby.
The Derby is a race Young looks forward to every year because promising staying horses are what she aims to purchase in the New Zealand sales.
“He (Sangster) was just a good, tough Savabeel and we were training from New Zealand then,” Young said.
“Since we’ve been over here we’ve managed to get horses in it the past few years who’ve run seconds, third and fourths.
“We had a third and fourth last year, so we’re always thereabouts. We always get one or two there, and we generally focus on buying out of New Zealand to buy those Derby types.”
“We always get one or two there, and we generally focus on buying out of New Zealand to buy those Derby types.” - Natalie Young
Bellatrix Star primed for Coolmore Stud Stakes
Another New Zealand-born trainer, Mark Walker, has Bellatrix Star (Star Witness) in top form for the Te Akau Racing stable at Cranbourne, heading into the G1 Coolmore Stud S. at Flemington on Saturday.
She is an $8 winning chance in the $2 million sprint for 3-year-olds over 1200 metres, with Blake Shinn to ride the filly who has saluted in her past three starts, from barrier 11.
Last start, Bellatrix Star saluted by 0.5l in the G2 Schillaci S. on October 12, showing a great turn of foot down the middle of the Caulfield straight and inside the last 100 metres, with Oscar’s Fortune (Rich Enuff) in second spot.
Bellatrix Star | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
The performance was particularly impressive given it was a race for 3-year-old horses and upwards.
“She beat the older horses. For a 3-year-old, if they can beat the older horses, it shows they’re pretty good,” Walker told The Thoroughbred Report when asked about his talented sprinter with five wins from nine starts.
“She’s won three on the bounce and she’s going well. But it’s Derby Day and there’s nowhere to hide, is there?”
“She (Bellatrix Star) beat the older horses (in the G2 Schillaci S.). For a 3-year-old, if they can beat the older horses, it shows they’re pretty good.” - Mark Walker
Bellatrix Star – already with $620,557 in career prizemoney earnings – was bought for just NZ$80,000 by DC Ellis CNZM (BAFNZ)/Fortuna Racing from Phoenix Park at the 2023 NZB National Yearling Sale.
Bred by Mr R Dunnett, she is by Star Witness, who has produced 25 stakes winners, including now broodmare and Group 1 victor, Global Glamour, and out of Alana’s Party (Exceed And Excel). Alana’s Party has produced five foals for three runners and two winners, her other victor being Vinolass (Supido).
Walker has been impressed by Bellatrix Star’s attitude and her love of the big race days so far in her young but super-impressive career.
David Ellis and Mark Walker | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
“She’s just really competitive, and she’s just a genuine racehorse. She keeps raising the bar so far this prep,” he said.
King Of Enterprise - a value bet
Young also likes the look of King Of Enterprise (NZ) (Impending) in the G3 Carbine Club S. for 3-year-olds, which is race one on the card at Flemington on Victoria Derby Day.
Last start, the gelding came from midfield to win by 1.25l in a maiden over 1400 metres at Pakenham on October 18.
Busuttin Racing purchased King Of Enterprise for NZ$90,000 from BMD Bloodstock Ltd at the 2023 NZB Ready to Run Sale.
King Of Enterprise (NZ) | Image courtesy of Racing Photos
He lines up a $21 winning chance from barrier seven for the mile race worth $500,000 on Saturday, and Young believes this presents good value for punters.
“Second-up when he won at Pakenham, I thought he went to the line nicely when he won,” she said.
“It was a Heavy track but stepping out to the extra 200 metres to the mile against his age group with Hugh (Bowman) on board, I think he’ll get every chance.
“I think he’s good value at $20. He’s come through that run excellent. He was a Ready to Run purchase, and he’s really done nothing too wrong from his first two starts.”
“I think he’s (King Of Enterprise) good value at $20 (in the G3 Carbine Club S.).” - Natalie Young
King Of Enterprise is by Group 1-winning, Darley resident Impending, who has produced 305 named foals for 102 winners, two at stakes level. He is out of High Vogue (Ire) (High Chaparral {Ire}) and is her only winner so far from three runners.
Young was impressed with King Of Enterprise’s physical characteristics at last year’s NZB Ready to Run Sale.
“I really liked him at the Ready to Run – I thought he had a nice, big action, and he’s a nice, big strong horse,” Young said.
“I thought Impending was a good racehorse himself. I thought physically he was a big, strong type with a huge hind quarter on him.
King Of Enterprise (NZ) as a 2-year-old | Image courtesy of New Zealand Bloodstock
“From a physical aspect, I thought he looked like he’d run and be a Guineas type. We gelded him and he was a bit later on in the prep to start him off.
“So, we sort of missed the boat there, but he’s had two starts for a second and a win, and he hasn’t done too much wrong.”
Feroce, Stylish Secret (NZ) (Sweet Orange {USA}), Aeliana (NZ) (Castelvecchio), and King of Enterprise are four Kiwi-bred runners with promising chances in the G3 Carbine Club S.
Meanwhile, Powers Of Opal (NZ) (Ocean Park {NZ}) is the $2.80 favorite for New Zealand-born trainer John Sargent heading into the G2 Wakeful S.
In the G1 Empire Rose S., Group 1 winner Atishu (NZ) (Savabeel), bred at Waikato Stud, leads the betting at a competitive $4.50 under the guidance of New Zealand-born trainer Chris Waller.
Atishu (NZ) is a leading contender for the G1 Empire Rose S. at Flemington | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
The 7-year-old mare is closely followed by Orchestral (NZ) (Savabeel), trained by New Zealand-based conditioners Roger James and Robert Wellwood. Kiwi-bred competitors Lekvarte (NZ) (Reliable Man {GB}) and Grinzinger Belle (NZ) (Shamexpress {NZ}) come into the race with momentum, having won their last starts in the G3 Angst S. and G3 Vase, respectively.
More investment needed in NZ
Walker believes racing in his home country is headed in the right direction, but – despite no shortage of Kiwi quality to line up on Saturday – he said there still needed to be more investment in the sport.
And he said Entain – the owners of betting company Ladbrokes – signing a 25-year partnership with the New Zealand TAB after committing $900 million to the racing industry over the next five years – was a big step forward.
“We desperately need some more investment in New Zealand, that’s for sure,” Walker told The Thoroughbred Report.
“We desperately need some more investment in New Zealand, that’s for sure.” - Mark Walker
“But Entain came on board and that has been a massive turnaround for the industry. We’re heading in the right direction, but we need more good stallions in New Zealand. Savabeel is coming to the end of it. He’s been an incredible stallion. There are some promising stallions in New Zealand, but that’s where we need more investment.
“All racing revolves around prizemoney, doesn’t it? We’ve lagged behind Australia for so long, and we’re still a fair way behind.”
High hopes for elite winners at upcoming Ready to Run Sale
Young said the 2024 NZB Ready to Run Sale at Karaka on November 20-21 will produce a stack of elite-level winners.
This sale has produced 29 Group 1 wins and 116 stakes victors in the past five seasons, including Antino (NZ) (Redwood {GB}), Ceolwulf (NZ) (Tavistock {NZ}), Feroce (Super Seth), Warmonger (NZ) (War Decree {USA}) and Mr Brightside (NZ) (Bullbars).
“Looking at the individual stakes and Group 1 winners, it just makes you more confident when you go back to the sales, which we will next month for the Ready to Run,” Young said. “It makes you confident of putting your hand up and buying them and putting clients into them.
“Looking at the individual stakes and Group 1 winners, it just makes you more confident when you go back to the sales, which we will next month for the (NZB) Ready to Run.” - Natalie Young
“We know that New Zealand is fantastic for its breeding, and breeding staying-types of horses.
“That’s always what we look for when we go back.”
