Mick Price & Michael Kent Jnr have had experience preparing a three-year-old for The Everest and will be hoping former Perth gelding Bustling can put his best foot forward in Saturday’s Group 2 The Run To The Rose (1200m) at Rosehill.
Price & Kent Jnr’s only runner in seven editions of The Everest was three-year-old colt Jacquinot, who had won the Group 1 Golden Rose (1400m) prior to a close up fifth behind Giga Kick, but Mick Price confirmed Bustling won’t stretch out to the Golden Rose.
“He’ll go to The Heritage after Saturday and the one after is The Everest. He’ll have two runs and then it’s into The Everest,” Price said.
The Listed Heritage Stakes (1100m) will be run on September 28th, three weeks before The Everest on October 19th, for which Bustling is a $17 chance.
Bustling, who won the Group 2 Karrakatta Plate (1200m) by 4.2 lengths, is one of just two horses with a confirmed slot for The Everest alongside star sprinter I Wish I Win, and Price was pleased with the grey’s latest trial win at Rosehill.
“He was good in the trial and will have Chad Schofield on. Chad will be able to ride 53 in The Everest. He’ll be hungry and can do it.”
Slot holders Max Whitby, Neil Werrett and Col Madden purchased shares in Bustling in May, locking in the then two-year-old as the first runner to gain a slot in The Everest, and while Price remained ever measured about the boom horse, he was certain on one factor that might affect Bustling’s chances this Spring.
“He does not like wet ground, so I don’t know what we’ll do there if it comes up a wet track on The Everest,” Price said.
“He’s from Perth, so how would he like the wet ground?”
Bustling will take on a hot field in Saturday’s The Run To The Rose, with dominant first-up winner Storm Boy the $2.30 favourite. Bustling is on the fourth line of betting at $9 with the likes of Traffic Warden, Switzerland, Linebacker and Gatsby’s all expected to run.