Mick Price remains circumspect about Buggsy’s standing among the premier sprinting three-year-olds, but the colt is poised to be tested at a higher level following a determined first-up victory on Saturday.
The son of Harry Angel proved superior to his rivals in the $150,000 Chef’s Hat Handicap (1000m) at Sandown, showing great tenacity.
While the race did not carry Black Type status, it did feature the inclusion of the capable Sydney visitor Incognito. Price acknowledges that Buggsy needs to improve significantly to compete with the best of his age group, but believes the colt has earned his chance.
“Obviously he’s been Stakes-placed when he was on the way down and now you’ve got all these nice races in front of him and he is a colt,” Price remarked. “You’ve got to go that way; Poseidon, Danehill, Coolmore.”
“I’m not saying he’s going to be good enough, because we are on a soft track and it’s off-Stakes form, but that’s the way he’s got to go.”
Price, who trains in partnership with Michael Kent Jnr, has a solid benchmark for assessing sprinting three-year-olds in Guest House, the winner of last season’s Golden Slipper.
After being challenged in the final furlong, Buggsy ($3.20 fav) battled strongly to secure a short-head win from Jacaranda ($11), with Calamari Ring ($13) finishing a half-neck behind in third. The betting markets saw the favourite fight back tenaciously to claim the victory.
Saturday’s performance was Buggsy’s first start since his third-place finish in the Listed Redoute’s Choice Stakes (1200m) on April 11. His only previous start resulted in a debut win over 1000m at the same track.
Craig Williams, who guided Buggsy to his initial win, was reunited with the colt on Saturday. Williams indicated that Buggsy still has some maturing to do, which provides optimism for his future progression.
“He’s still thinking about other things, but when he turns into a racehorse it’s great,” Williams stated. “He’s got nice ability and he’s got very good determination.”
Buggsy’s victory served as the middle leg of a treble for Williams across the first six races. He also completed a running double aboard the Clayton Douglas-trained Final Moment, having earlier partnered Nearco Frod to its fourth consecutive win in a 2400m staying race.
Given Buggsy’s impressive return, the racing betting markets are expected to be active, with many punters keen to back him using Australian betting sites.
