3 minute read

Superb Group 2 Karrakatta Plate (1200m) champion, Bustling, recently the subject of intense interest from international buyers, is expected to give trainer Dan Morton a second consecutive Perth juvenile feature at Ascot on Saturday.

After his astonishing 4 ½ length romp in last fortnight's Karrakatta Plate, Perth's richest two-year-old event, Bustling is raging favourite to end his stunning maiden campaign on a winning high in the Group 3 WA Sires' Produce Stakes (1400m).

To take out the lucrative group double is a feather in the cap of any young horse or trainer, but it's a feat that Dan Morton knows only too well after winning Perth's two best races for babies just 12-months ago with his gun filly, Super Smink.

Already a winner of $467,620 after three wins and a second from four starts, Bustling can add another $109,600 to his prizemoney kitty and burst through the half a million dollar barrier if he lives up to the hype in the Sires.

In an ominous warning to his Sires' rivals, Morton said Bustling had not gone backwards after toweling up his opposition in the Karrakatta Plate two weeks ago.

"He's excellent and has come through the Karrakatta Plate race real nice," Morton said on Tabradio.

"It was a beautiful watch, that's for sure. I'm not sure if he's exceeded my expectations, because we've always had a good opinion of him.

"But, I've never seen a softer win in a good race like that, he ran excellent time and it looked like he could have gone quicker if that was needed.

"It's hard not to get excited by him."

If Morton needed further encouragement he got it in spades from champion Sydney jockey, Blake Shinn.

Shinn had his first ride on Bustling in the Karrakatta and he left no doubt as to his opinion of the Frosted gelding.

"He was very confident going into the race," Morton said.

"He hadn't been on, but for what he'd seen he was very confident.

"He couldn't speak highly enough of him after the race.

"Everyone is up and about and onwards and upwards."

With Shinn back over east, Morton has returned to familiar ground with Brad Parnham booked for the prized Sires' mount.

Parnham is acquainted with Bustling and got the ball rolling after piloting him to victory on debut at Ascot in March.

Parnham won the Sires on Snowdome two years ago and Brava Fortune in 2008, combining with his trainer-father, Neville.

Morton won the first of his three Sires' with Bliss Street (2011) before following up with Camporella (2013) and Super Smink (2023).

The Sires' has attracted 10 nominations with Bustling drawing the extreme outside gate.