
The stable of Trent Busuttin and Natalie Young will be doubly represented in Saturday’s K A Morrison Handicap (1400m) at Flemington, with three-year-olds Nostringsattached and Daggers both set to take their place in the field.
Despite the unfortunate clash, Busuttin is confident both colts are well placed to perform strongly.
Daggers emerged as a colt with Guineas potential last spring after two stylish wins but was spelled following defeats in the Exford Plate and the Stutt Stakes.
Since resuming, he’s shown glimpses of form, finishing second over 1200m at Flemington and then struggling when dropped to 1100m. He recently ran midfield behind The Goodwood winner Reserve Bank in Adelaide.
“Daggers has been racing better horses than these,” Busuttin said.
“He didn’t have much luck last start, he drew inside Reserve Bank and Reserve Bank went forward and sat outside the leader and we went back to last.
“I thought he ran very well.”
Nostringsattached was an emergency for the Australian Guineas and instead lined up in the Future Stars at Pakenham, where he scored impressively.
He went close again in Sydney, just edged out in the South Pacific Classic, before failing to fire at Caulfield earlier this month.
“Last start was a non-event,” Busuttin said.
“It was messy, he was favourite, it was very hard the Caulfield track that day, and he didn’t appreciate it and threw his head about.
“We’ll forgive him one bad day. If he turns up, he can bounce back.”
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