Spain hoping to add to recent city wins

Apprentice Zac Spain has made a good start to the new year and he will be out to build on it at Flemington.

Spain has ridden a winner at the two city meetings in Melbourne this week and has five rides on Saturday’s program including two for his bosses Trent Busuttin and Natalie Young.

“It’s been really good,” Spain said.

“I’ve got a lot of support from Trent and Natalie.

“It was going a little bit quiet there for a little while. Trent and Natalie’s horses, it was mostly just young horses who were just starting to come through and I was just doing a lot of trials and I was also struggling a little bit just trying to get outside rides as well.

“Then it slowly started to pick up and it’s good to get the few city winners this year and hopefully I can just keep the ball rolling.”

Spain made the move from South Australia in the middle of last year on a three-month loan from trainer Lloyd Kennewell.

After the loan period he transferred to Busuttin and Young and the 21-year-old has ridden 20 Victorian winners this season including five in town.

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Spain’s win on the Vincent Malady-trained King Of The Ark on Wednesday was his third city win in the past two weeks and he is intent on reducing his 2kg metropolitan claim in the coming months.

His Flemington rides include talented colt Salsamor who resumes in the Rain Lover Handicap (1400m), his first start since his third in the Group Two Vase (2040m) at Moonee Valley in October.

“He’s going really well,” Spain said.

“He’s a nice horse obviously having run in those big races and he’s drawn a good barrier (two) so that helps his situation as well.

“First-up might be a little bit short for him but look for him to be hitting the line really strongly late.”

Baduzzi, the winner of two of her three starts, is another ride for Busuttin and Young in the Craftsman Handicap (1400m) and Spain hopes the filly can continue her progression after winning at Mornington late last month with Ben Allen aboard.

“Her work has been really good. The only thing is she has drawn a bit average out wide,” Spain said.

“So we just need a bit of luck.”