Written by Richard Edmunds
Famous for their Derby-winning raids from their old base in Cambridge, Trent Busuttin and Natalie Young are still waiting for their first Group 1 win since relocating to Australia.
The Kiwi couple won the Victoria Derby with Sangster (NZ) (Savabeel) in 2011 and added the Australian Derby with Tavago (NZ) (Tavistock {NZ}) five years later.
Now based in Cranbourne, Busuttin and Young’s hopes of an elite-level breakthrough will be carried by the well-bred filly Maracaibo (Redoute’s Choice) in Saturday’s G1 Schweppes Oaks at Morphettville.
Trent Busuttin and Natalie Young
“We haven’t won a Group 1 since we moved over from New Zealand,” Young said. “We’ve had a few placings, but just haven’t quite got up. Hopefully we can do it this weekend.
"She’s already got some black-type and it would be amazing to lift that up to Group 1 level on Saturday.” – Natalie Young.
“She’s a well-bred Redoute’s Choice filly who cost a bit more than most of our yearling purchases, so Group 1 racing has always been the dream for her. She’s already got some black-type and it would be amazing to lift that up to Group 1 level on Saturday.”
Maracaibo cost $400,000 at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale in 2017 – the highest-priced yearling ever bought by Busuttin Racing solely under their own name.
Maracaibo as a yearling.
Her dam, Spanish Lake (Encosta de Lago), is a half-sister to the Group 1 winner Calveen (NZ) (Canny Lad) and stakes winners Kosi Bay (NZ) (Spinning World {USA}), Fireworks (Snitzel) and Striker (NZ) (Van Nistelrooy {USA}).
Maracaibo has won three of her nine starts and placed in last month’s G3 Adrian Knox S. She has also contested two previous Oaks races this season, running a strong fourth in the VRC Oaks in November and a last-start fifth in the ATC Oaks.
“In the Oaks, she possibly made her move a little bit too soon and just weakened a bit in the final stages of the race.” – Natalie Young.
“She ran a great race in the VRC Oaks, and her run in the Adrian Knox just before the Australian Oaks was a real cracker,” Young said.
“In the Oaks, she possibly made her move a little bit too soon and just weakened a bit in the final stages of the race.
“She’s been working great in the lead-up to this weekend, and she travelled to Adelaide on Thursday. She’s a seasoned traveller now, so we’re sure she’ll take that in her stride.
“She’s a seasoned traveller now, so we’re sure she’ll take that in her stride.” – Natalie Young.
“She’s dropping back from 2400 to 2000 metres, so we’ve freshened her a little bit. We’ll aim to be positive from the gate (10), and she’s definitely good enough to be right there at the finish.”
Maracaibo will be ridden by Stephen Baster and is rated a $21 chance.
The favourite is Princess Jenni (NZ) (High Chaparral {Ire}), who has won her last two starts including the G3 Alexandra S.
The field also features Aristia (Lonhro), who, like Maracaibo, is running in her third Oaks of the season. She won the VRC Oaks, then finished 11th in the ATC Oaks following placings in the G3 Frances Tressady S., G2 Phar Lap S. and G3 Vinery Stud S.
