Co-trainer Trent Busuttin is in a quandary about where to target Tagaloa after the colt scored a gritty win at The Valley.
After finishing third on debut at Flemington during Melbourne Cup week, Tagaloa showed the benefit of that experience with victory in the Strath Haven Preston Sprint Plate on Saturday.
Sent out the $4.40 favourite under Michael Walker, Tagaloa scored by a length from Baaqyah ($5.50) with Yulong Island ($8) 2-1/4 lengths away third.
Busuttin, who trains Tagaloa in partnership with Natalie Young, has the Magic Millions 2YO Classic at the Gold Coast as an option along with the Blue Diamond Stakes and Golden Slipper during the autumn.
But Busuttin doubted running in the Magic Millions then returning for the Blue Diamond and Golden Slipper was achievable.
“I’m sure there’s better fillies and colts to come out for the Diamond and the Slipper and they’re nice options to look at, but the $2m Magic Millions Classic is also pretty hard to turn down,” Busuttin said.
“Sunlight won the Magic Millions and came down for the Golden Slipper, but she was a different beast, but I don’t think you can go up there and come back and time it right.”
Busuttin and Young are not renowned as trainers of two-year-olds which Busuttin hopes to amend.
He said Tagaloa was a $300,000 yearling purchase.
“I didn’t know much about the breeding other than the sire was a superstar,” Busuttin said.
“He’s by a Japanese sire from a Japanese dam and we know Japanese are the best bred and that Arrowfield always produce good horses.
“We were lucky enough to get him and hopefully it continues.”
Article from JustHorseRacing.com.au