Group 1 dreams of a winning major three-year-old race with Muramasa kick off at Flemington.
The Group 3 C S Hayes Stakes (1400m) on Saturday is where the Trent Busuttin and Natalie Young-trained colt kicks off his autumn campaign in the colours of Ozzie Kheir, John O’Neill and partners.
The Group 1 Australian Derby (2400m) at Randwick in April is the long-term goal for Muramasa who has also been entered for the Randwick Guineas (1600m), the Rosehill Guineas (2000m), the Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2000m) and the Sydney Cup (3200m).
Muramasa has to date faced the starter on just four occasions.
He was successful over 1427m on debut at Sale before graduating straight to stakes level, finding Moonee Valley too tight when seventh in the Bill Stutt Stakes on September 23.
Next it was off to Caulfield to finish second in the Group 3 Caulfield Classic (2000m) before finishing fifth to Manzoice in the Group 1 Victoria Derby (2500m) at Flemington.
The son of Deep Impact was only afforded a short break on the spring grass before his autumn campaign commenced, which included finishing second in a Cranbourne trial over 990m on February 6. You can find more on the betting for the race at bettingguide.com.au
Busuttin is concerned the 1400m of Saturday’s race will be too short for Masamura.
“He’s drawn wide, he’ll get back and be hitting the line,” Busuttin said.
“He’ll run well through the line. It’s a steppingstone to have him up and going, but he has come back good, he’s trialled good, so if he’s hitting the line, it will be good.”
Busuttin said after Saturday it was likely the colt would head to the Group 1 Australian Guineas (1600m) or the Randwick Guineas (1600m) which are both run on March 4.
After one of those races, it will be on to either the Rosehill Guineas or the Group 2 Alister Clark Stakes (2040m) at Moonee Valley.
“The Derby in Sydney is where we would like to get to,” Busuttin said.
“We’ll probably keep him here to run in the Australian Guineas next as that, and the Randwick Guineas, are the only suitable three-year-old mile races around for a horse like him.
“Then we’ll look at the Alister Clark Stakes or the Rosehill Guineas, but there are some options, so we’ll choose the right one, hopefully, on how he is going at the time.”