The Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr stable is hesitant to test Bustling in Sydney again and will instead focus their racing endeavours in Melbourne.
Bustling is set to run for the fourth time this campaign in the Group 3 Sir John Monash Stakes (1100m) at Caulfield on Saturday, aiming to record his first victory since May 2024.
It is acknowledged that Bustling has only had four starts in that timeframe since his last success, but the gelding was initially acquired as a potential candidate for The Everest.
However, Bustling has performed poorly in two Sydney starts.
In his initial Sydney appearance, Bustling finished second last in the Group 2 Run To The Rose (1200m) at Rosehill, which was his last run before a 20-month break from racing. His most recent Sydney outing saw him finish seventh at Randwick on June 20.
Before heading to Sydney, Bustling had achieved consecutive placings at Caulfield, first-up over 1000m on May 9 and then second in the Listed Bel Esprit Stakes (1100m) on May 30.
Kent Jnr commented that the stable felt let down by Bustling’s effort in his last race.
“We had him in at Flemington down the straight and in Sydney that day,” Kent Jnr said.
“I was a bit cautious on Sydney because he had failed there once before, but I thought that was in the past.
“Horses change states all the time, so I had to find out.
“Talking to both track managers, the surface at Randwick was going to be much better and as it worked out, he didn’t fire a shot in Sydney which was in stark contrast to how he had been progressing in Melbourne where he felt like we were building to a win.
“He ran a first-up third, we didn’t think he could win over 1000 (metres) with a big weight, but he progressed nicely, ran second in the Bel Esprit, a Listed race, and went to Sydney looking for better ground, but hated that way of going.
“He layed-in up the straight badly and he came out of the gates and knuckled badly, but he pulled-up perfect and we’re looking forward to Saturday.
“Fourth-up, he can’t be much fitter, and Blake Shinn rode him on Monday morning in a piece of work and thought it was excellent.”
Kent Jnr stated that Bustling should be at his peak for Saturday’s race, having finally shed the ‘excess’ weight after nearly two years away from competition.
“It takes a while to get rid of two years of fat from not racing,” Kent Jnr explained.
“He had been in and out of work, but there was no high-end trials or races and it takes a while for them, and I really think we’ve got the horse fit.”
Apprentice Logan Bates has been given the ride, despite the Sir John Monash Stakes being a non-claiming race.
For those keen on the Sir John Monash Stakes, explore the available racing odds at various betting sites.
