Rising staying talent Thebudgiesmugla has justified the decision to bypass the Brisbane Cup in preference for a Listed assignment at Rosehill, maintaining its perfect 2400-metre record.
Trainer Bjorn Baker, currently in England to oversee the Royal Ascot bid of gun sprinter Overpass, opted for Saturday’s The Queen Elizabeth II Cup (2400m) in Sydney, feeling it would provide a better progression towards the Caloundra Cup (2400m) at the Sunshine Coast on July 4.
Last year’s Caloundra feature was won by Half Yours before he went on to Caulfield Cup and Melbourne Cup success in the spring, and the Baker stable feels Thebudgiesmugla is showing enough promise to entertain similarly lofty goals next season.
“We needed to see him win it, and we needed to see him do it on top of the ground if he’s going to be competitive in better races,” Baker’s racing manager, Luke Hilton said.
“We’d like to go to the Caloundra Cup with him. It’s in three weeks, 2400, good prizemoney race. It’s also a good form race for a few other races later in the year. Half Yours won that race, so we’ll head the same way.”
Starting his career in New Zealand, Thebudgiesmugla has posted four wins in Australia, all of them over 2400m.
Settling on the heels of the leaders for Dylan Gibbons on Saturday, the even-money favourite relaxed beautifully in the run and finished resolutely down the outside to defeat Black Run ($7.50) by three-quarters of a length, with another half-head to So You Are ($8.50).
Hilton admitted to getting antsy on the point of the corner when the field quickened, but said Gibbons knew what he had up his sleeve.
“I was getting itchy feet coming to the corner and willing Dylan to get going on him, because we know he takes time to wind up,” Hilton said. “But he really fights when he gets there. He doesn’t really dash but he keeps grinding. He’s still really raw, and I think there is plenty to come.”
Gibbons has ridden Thebudgiesmugla to three of its four Australian wins and like Hilton, believes the five-year-old can continue to raise the bar.
“He is built so athletic, he’s got the best attitude. He saves every penny, and he can be tough and outstay them all day,” Gibbons said.
With Baker showcasing Australian racing in London, Sky Racing’s Greg Radley suggested to Hilton that his laconic boss might seize the moment for a photo opportunity sporting a pair of budgie smugglers in front of Buckingham Palace.
“Don’t joke about it. You know he’ll do it,” Hilton quipped.
The Caloundra Cup is the next logical target, and Australian betting sites are already buzzing with anticipation for this exciting race.