Bustling, the former West Australian, sees Mick Price and co-trainer Michael Kent Jnr opting for flexibility, as the Caulfield Tour d’Horse Sprint this Saturday strays from his procurement goal.

Nearly 20 months since last racing, the four-year-old launches into the $130,000 1000-metre benchmark 84.

His single run since the high-price purchase was eighth from nine in September 2024’s Group 2 Run To The Rose for Price and Kent, hampered by ongoing troubles afterward.

A step down from The Everest aspirations for the Frosted progeny, the race still delights Price with the mere sight of Bustling competing.

“He had some bone problems and just assorted different niggles,” Price said.

“We keep getting him up, then we keep giving him time, we keep getting him up then we keep giving him time.

“But everyone’s done a good job with him and he’s now as right as we can have him.”

That Run To The Rose broke a streak where four of five starts brought wins like Group 2 Karrakatta Plate (1200m), Group 3 WA Sires Produce Stakes (1400m), Listed Perth Stakes (1100m), alongside a second place.

Build-up efforts comprised third in 800m at Cranbourne on April 6 and a triumph in 850m trial on Caulfield Heath April 23.

Mark Zahra, who steered both, continues Saturday with Bustling quoted at $4.40 favourite.

Price voiced concerns over Victoria’s wet weather, adding that improvement from the track’s Thursday Soft 6 assessment would favour Bustling.

“He’s a happy horse, he’s big, strong and he’s grown a lot since his two-year-old days,” Price said.

“He is one horse who hates the wet, but he is ready to run well.”

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