The meeting that traditionally hosts Flemington’s Derby and Oaks previews has seen its event moved this year.
The two races have been unified into a single event for this year, and it will be conducted at Caulfield on Saturday, adhering to the standard 1800-meter distance.
The Cranbourne-based stable of Trent Busuttin and Natalie Young will feature two runners in the HKJC World Pool Classics Preview (1800m) on Saturday, with Arashi Flash and Icy You scheduled to participate.
Both horses are coming off recent victories and are being pointed towards the Group 1 Victoria Derby (2500m) at Flemington next month.
Arashi Flash found the increased distance beneficial, winning over 1547m at Geelong on August 28, while Icy You, after a debut second on the synthetic track at Pakenham, claimed a win over 1600m at Echuca on August 30.
“This race is a nice lead-up,” Young said.
“Arashi Flash, he won really nicely at Geelong, and he’s ticked over nicely through it.
“If you are heading towards a Derby trip, and he is a horse that is out of a Zabeel mare, it is a nice progression.
“Icy You, he ran second on the synthetic at his first start and then won well at Echuca.
“He may not have beaten great competition, but he did it easy and Froggy (Craig Newitt) was looking back over his shoulder.
“He’s worked up super and he has to get around Caulfield, but he’s bred to get out to that sort of trip.
“It’s nice to have those sorts of horses at this time of year heading down that Derby path.”
Young mentioned that the stable would use the performances of the two horses on Saturday to determine the advisability of targeting subsequent Derby lead-up races in the weeks ahead.
“There is the Super Impose Stakes coming up, there is the Caulfield Classic, there’s the Geelong Classic,” Young said.
“They are all nice races, and this is progression to those, but they have to put their hands up to show they are up to city grade.
“You can’t win it, if you’re not in it.”
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