| Exciting youngster Cusack booked his place in the feature race on Queensland’s richest raceday with an exciting debut win in today’s $250,000 Magic Millions Ballarat 2YO Classic (1000m). |
A member of the Trent Busuttin and Natalie Young Stable, Cusack was sent out a $10 pop with bookies in a wide open race and overcame greenness for a gutsy win. Rider Craig Newitt was able to get enough out of the son of Not a Single Doubt as he snuck home to beat Matt Cumani’s Cover Star, while Clayton Douglas’ Epic Centre was a length back third. The win was enjoyed by Cusack’s all female ownership group – 20 share holders who are eyeing off a slice of the $500,000 Magic Millions Racing Women Bonus run in conjunction with the $2 million The Star Gold Coast Magic Millions 2YO Classic at the Gold Coast on January 15. “He was tough,” Busuttin said. “He didn’t do everything 100 per cent.” “He was sort of off the bridle on the point of the turn. I thought ‘you’re in trouble’ but then he was hanging out from the horse inside (of) him, but he hung tough and it was great.” “For a great bunch of owners, some first timers amongst them! (The ownership comprises) a bunch of ladies that have got together and bought the horse. They’ll be chasing the ladies’ bonus up on the Gold Coast.” “That is certainly a lot harder but he’s basically got his ticket in the race so all being well we’ll go up there.” Cusack was a $200,000 Gold Coast Yearling Sale buy for Busuttin Racing from the Fernrigg Farm draft in January. The win was celebrated by the Fernrigg team who are preparing his full sister as Lot 792 at the 2022 sale. Meanwhile, group performer Aquagirl gave her connections a big pay day when she scored a driving win in the $150,000 Magic Millions Ballarat 3YO & 4YO Classic (1100m) later in the day. A $55,000 Gold Coast Yearling Sale buy for syndicator Wylie Dalziel in conjunction with Peter Moody and trainer Phillip Stokes from the Cressfield draft, Aquagirl was sent out at good odds after three runs this campaign including a last start stakes run over the Flemington Cup Carnival. The well bred Aquagirl (Headwater) is a half sister to group winner Villami and is from the multiple group winning Dehere mare Galapagos Girl. North of the border outstanding galloper Count De Rupee scored the biggest win of his rising career when he led home a Magic Millions clean sweep trifecta result in the $1 million The Gong at Kembla Grange. Locally trained by Robert and Luke Price, Count De Rupee was coming off a gallant second in the recent $7.5 million Golden Eagle when he overcame trouble in a slashing run. Sent out the favourite, he camped off the speed under Brock Ryan before the pair with a stunning burst in the straight for an easy win to the cheers of the locals. A son of Real Impact, Count De Rupee was a $145,000 Gold Coast Yearling Sale buy for Robert Price from the Arrowfield Stud draft in 2019. From just 15 starts he’s earned his connections over $2.4 million with six wins and seven placings currently on his imposing record. Proven big race performer Eleven Eleven swept the other feature at Kembla Grange when he stormed home to win the $300,000 The Warra for Greg Hickman. The five-year-old son of Fastnet Rock was a $230,000 buy for Hickman from the Edinburgh Park draft at the 2018 Gold Coast Yearling Sale. As it stands he’s earned over $2.28 million and he is likely to be heading to the $10.25 million Magic Millions Raceday in January to win his third feature on the big day. The $12.895 million Magic Millions Race Series now heads to Wyong with two feature races on December 15 acting as further stepping stones to the Gold Coast in January. |
