The Victoria Derby put Trent Busuttin and Natalie Young on map in Australia, but the 2500-metre Group 1 has provided them with nothing but heartbreak since their 2011 win with Sangster.
The Cranbourne training partners ran second in last year’s Flemington Classic with longshot Arcora, 12 months after Sunsets finished third, to go with another second placing with Sully in 2017.
That trio all had something in common, which is why Young is just as anxious about Wednesday’s barrier draw for their team as the race itself.
Sully drew barrier 14, Arcora 11 and Sunsets the outside gate in a field of 16 the year Busuttin and Young also had fourth placegetter Kosgei, who started from barrier 12.
“We’ve always had a couple of runners in the Derby, it’s not easy to do with three-year-olds at this time of year, but you just need a bit of luck,” Young said.
“We’ve run second with horses that have had really wide barrier draws and all those little things come into play when you’re tackling Group Ones.”
Busuttin and Young train three of the 24 three-year-olds who were nominated for the Derby on Monday, with last Saturday’s Moonee Valley Vase fourth placegetter Gilgeous joining Cignetti and Icy You among the entries.
Cignetti and Icy You head into the Derby off third placings in a three-way photo finishes, Super Seth gelding Cignetti in the Group 3 Caulfield Classic (2000m) and Icy You, who is by Pinatubo, in the Listed Geelong Classic (2200m).
Young said they have differing attributes that make them worthy Derby contenders.
“They’ve gone a couple of different paths, but they do actually work together, and I think Cignetti has that little bit better turn of foot, whereas Icy You is more an out-and-out stayer,” Young said.
“Each race Cignetti just tightens up that little bit. He’s quite a big, gross sort of a horse but looking at him on Saturday morning I was thinking he’s really got nice and fit and he’s going to be spot on for the 2500.
“Icy You had to do a little bit of work on the corner (at Geelong) and I thought he was pretty tough to stick on. He’ll love the trip, he needs 2500, and he’s tightened up nicely too.”
