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Cranbourne-based trainer Trent Busuttin was unequivocal in his praise for the auction house Inglis and their digital Easter Yearling Sale.
Busuttin, who trains in partnership with Natalie Young, purchased six horses from the sale catalogue was unreserved in his comments when asked about his opinion.
“Inglis did a fantastic job. I don’t think there will be a buyer or a vendor out there that would have any complaints. Not only was the process very fair and straight forward but it was very efficient.”
Busuttin divided up the tasks of looking at the horses between himself and Young to cover maximum ground in the short time before the sale.
“Between Natalie and I, we looked at third of the horses, while in Quarantine.”
Like many other buyers, they too found a work-around for the horses they couldn’t see, “A couple of bloodstock agents we work with gave us detailed feedback and lists.”
“And then we watched it all unfold.”
In about 2007, Trent and Natalie decided to return to New Zealand, where they took out their trainers' licenses and purchased a property opposite the Cambridge Jockey Club training centre. But it was a horse named Sangster that really kicked off their career.
A horse named Sangster, brought the young partners, Busuttin and Young, early fame and success when he won the 2011 VRC Derby. More recently they may have the next Melbourne Cup winner on their hands after Inverloch delighted connections with his Gr.3 Easter Cup win at Caulfield.
Busuttin purchased five horses at the sale.
“I am very happy with our purchases. I knew were looking at the cream of the (yearling) crop in the best bloodstock sale of the year.”
“We bought, Lot 89, an American Pharoah colt out of More Than Real. He has pedigree on the dam side as well. Lot 283, an I Am Invincible filly bred by Kitchwin Hills out of Wiener. Lot 39, another I Am Invincible filly out of Lorna May, Lot 55 which from Arrowfield Stud’s withdrawn stock a Snitzel colt out of Margaery Tyrell and Lot 14 another I Am Invincible filly out of Lady Sharapova.
When quizzed about the downside of the sale, he almost reluctantly said, “Of course we lose the human side and miss out on many processes. A sale is a place where their great conversations happen, we meet many buyers for our syndicate shares and we see the horses first hand. That’s all lost in the digital sale. But this was our best option during the lockdown.”
“I am sure many people like me prefer the conventional sale but that format will come back after this is all over.”
“In my honest opinion, before the sale, I firmly believed that it should be put back and until such time as the Quarantine and the lockdown is over. But I was proven wrong when Inglis put together such a fantastic sale.”
Keeping in mind the 2YO races coming up soon, leading up to the Golden Slipper, his new purchases have already started their onward journeys.
“All the horses have arrived, including those from Melbourne. From here there will be going to the breakers later this week.”
He is very confident about the racing industry coming through the lockdown positively in the near future.
"We have been very lucky in racing in Victoria because so far we have been able to go down to the races and watch our horses racing.”
“However, South Australia Carnival is coming up and unfortunately I won’t be able to go inter-state. Our assistant trainers will be going instead although I did go to see the Golden Slipper earlier.”
“This situation is not easy. Usually, we go the races to meet potential owners. This year we still have some shares left. Like us, many others are also working to sell shares of their horses in a tough economy.”
“I have only one message for the people in Australia, we are very lucky to be able to keep going while others like Singapore and New Zealand have completely shut down.”
“We just have to get through this.”