Trent Busuttin only has to check the past results of the Group 2 Stutt Stakes to know that the best days of his 2021 winner of the race, Forgot You (NZ) (Savabeel), are behind him.
Busuttin is cognisant of this and will be happy to settle for an anniversary win four years later in the Benalla Cup for the now seven-year-old gelding in the hours leading up to the 2025 Stutt Stakes, where the stable will be represented by Decanted (NZ) (Darci Brahma).
Busuttin and Natalie Young are aiming for their third-successive win in the Benalla Cup after victories from Brayden Star (Twilight Son) in 2023 and Suizuro (Real impact) last year and he said they just want to see Forgot You show some form in the race.
“He was a bit plain last Friday at Ballarat, so we thought we thought with a quick turnaround and a jump up in trip to get him thinking a bit,” he said. “At his best he should and would win but he needs to lift off the back of his run the other day.
“The other day in the Gold Nugget it was a dead-set sit and sprint. They dashed up 400m and the horses in front of him left him flat footed. He’s a seven-year-old gelding. We’re not saving him for anything.”
As a three-year-old, Forgot You was one of the best of his age group. In addition to the Stutt Stakes, he also won the G2 Vase at Moonee Valley, as well as finishing third in the G1 Rosehill Guineas and fourth in the Australian Guineas.
But he suffered a suspensory ligament injury when he finished well back in the Australian Derby and was sidelined for more than a year and after missing another year with injury, returned to racing in May this year.
His most recent win was on November 7 2023 over 1800m at Flemington.
