Photo: Trish Dunell
The Trent Busuttin & Natalie Young stable will find out if they can add a bit more firepower to their three-year-old ranks when former kiwi-trained runner Riverplate (NZ) (Flying Artie) runs over 1200m at Sandown on Wednesday.
After one start in New Zealand for the recently retired Andrew Campbell where he ran second at Te Rapa in June, Riverplate was whisked across the Tasman.
Busuttin likes Riverplate but is not sure what to expect on Wednesday and sees it as a learning curve.
“You just don’t know with them coming over from New Zealand,” Busuttin said. “I see the form people don’t rate him. I see he’s around the $15 mark.
“That’s not the be-all and end-all, but they do their form and they’ve analysed the race. It’s interesting that they don’t rate him, but I suppose it’s a strong, city maiden race.
“He’s a big strong, impressive horse in the flesh and on his trackwork, he can gallop.”
Busuttin said nothing should be read into Riverplate having been nominated for races previously before stepping out on Wednesday.
The son of Flying Artie was entered for a race at The Valley back on August 21 and was an emergency acceptor in a maiden race at Echuca last week.
He has also been nominated for a maiden race over 1300m at Bendigo on Friday and also the 1200m race for three-year-olds at The Valley on Saturday.
And for good measure, Riverplate is entered for the Group 1 Caulfield Guineas (1600m) in October.
“You nominate for everything at this time of year, firstly to get a run and also to find out where they sit,” Busuttin said.
“We’ll run tomorrow and hopefully find out where he lies.”
Bred by Go Bloodstock New Zealand Ltd, Riverplate was sold out of Curraghmore's 2019 May Sale draft as a weanling before returning the following year as a yearling though the draft of Leanach Lodge when knocked down to Campbell for $30,000.
Riverplate races in the colours of Tommy Heptinstall. -NZ Racing Desk
