Jockey Steven Parnham has high hopes for Group 1 winner Bustler this campaign, following an encouraging trial at Belmont on Monday.
The 2023 Railway Stakes winner settled midfield in the 1000m trial, before he eventually finished within two lengths of the winner Wind And The Lion.
The five-year-old was winless through five starts last campaign but finished within four lengths of the winner of the Lee Steere Stakes (1400m), Railway Stakes (1600m), Northerly Stakes (1800m) and Gold Rush (1400m).
Parnham said Monday’s trial gave him plenty of reasons to be optimistic about his upcoming campaign.
“I was really pleased with his trial,” Parnham told TABradio.
“He’s typically not that great at the trials.
“He tends to leave if for race day.
“He’s working as good as he has done in the past and probably has a bit more maturity on his side.”
The son of Playing God, trained by Steven’s father Neville, is set to target Weight-For-Age races like the Belmont Sprint (1400m) and Hyperion Stakes (1600m), which he won and placed third respectively in 2023.
Parnham said a start in Sunday week’s Northam Stakes (1300m) hadn’t been ruled out following the trial.
“I spoke to dad before the trial and he was thinking of going to the Belmont Sprint first-up,” he said.
“He probably trialled better than we thought, so I don’t know for sure.
“When he goes to the races, he will be ready to go.”
Meanwhile, Deltason is set to head to Saturday week’s WA Sires Produce Stakes (1400m), following a stylish win in the Reliable Asset Maintenance Plate (1400m) at Ascot this afternoon.
Tim Walker
Image - Western Racepix