Draw gives Savvy Oak shot at G1 SA Derby

Co-trainer Natalie Young is looking to Savvy Oak to give her and partner Trent Busuttin a G1 win.

Training partners Trent Busuttin and Natalie Young have endured a frustrating run in Group One races since making the move from New Zealand to Victoria almost three years ago.

Their last win at the highest level was Tavago in the 2016 Australian Derby, a few months before they transferred to their Cranbourne base.

They have had Group One placings but that elusive winner has been a cause of frustration.

“Since Tavago won the Australian Derby we’ve run second in a Victoria Derby and New Zealand Derby since moving here,” Young said.

“We’ve had placings in Group Ones but just can’t get that win.

“The horses are running well so hopefully our luck is turning.”

Busuttin and Young get their latest shot at Group One success when Savvy Oak runs in Saturday’s South Australian Derby (2500m) at Morphettville in which he will be ridden by Michael Walker from barrier one.

“We’ve finally got a draw in a Derby, it’s brilliant,” Young said.

“We’ve got the ace draw.

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“I think Michael will give him every chance, put him to sleep on the rail, cuddle him up so he can run the 2500 metres out and hopefully its not too wet in Adelaide.”

A debut winner at Echuca in August, Savvy Oak went on to run seventh in the Victoria Derby in November at his sixth race start.

Young said Savvy Oak was raw and green and being a late November foal was still a two-year-old in that race.

She said the penny had finally dropped and the gelding was more mature this time around.

What Busuttin and Young do not want to see is too much rain in Adelaide.

Young said Savvy Oak was thwarted by a wet track when beaten at his last start at Cranbourne.

“Just being that bit heavier he didn’t have that initial turn of foot but then hit the line,” Young said.

“He worked nicely on Tuesday. He’ll travel over on Thursday night and chase another Derby and hopefully get our first Group One since we moved here.”

The Danny O’Brien-trained Grinzinger Star has been scratched leaving Damien Oliver without a Derby ride after he won both Group One races in Adelaide last Saturday, the Sangster on Spright and Australasian Oaks on Princess Jenni.