Bustling is odds-on to be named Champion WA 2YO for 2023-24 following a hollow victory in the G2 Karrakatta Plate (1200m) at Ascot on Saturday.
The Oakland Park homebred went into Perth’s premier juvenile event as a short-priced favourite off the back of a winning debut at Ascot in March and a Listed victory in the Perth Stakes (1100m) earlier this month.
Bustling (Photo / Western Racepix) maintained that momentum while putting four lengths on his rivals led by Earthstorm (Calyx) and Blue Rocket (Blue Point) in a sizzling 69:06s. The third placegetter was also bred at Oakland Park by Neville and Susan Duncan.
It wasn’t the first Karrakatta for the Duncans who race Bustling with Carol Morton and Neil MacDonald. That was Roman Time (Danetime) back in 2007 and their son Ben kept the family name to the forefront last year breeding the Dan Morton-trained winner Super Smink (Super One).
Morton went back-to-back and admitted it was an easier watch the second time around with Bustling. “That was very impressive and the time was super slick. Our only concern was if was he was bottled up on the fence because he’s a big-striding horse but he stepped beautifully for Blake (Shinn).
“That was only his fourth start and he should mature into a beautiful 3yo next season.”
Shinn said the youngster already handled like a 3yo after bringing the winner back to scale. “Dan identified him as a horse to win this race a while ago and he just felt beautiful today. He was primed to the minute and had the race in his control a long way from home.”
Bustling (2g Frosted – Busimiss by Key Business) is one of 27 Stakes winners by Frosted (USA) who shuttled to Darley’s Victorian base at Northwood Park in Seymour. His dam Busimiss won two Ascot nurseries for trainer Fred Kersley before earning black-type with Listed placings in the Supremacy Stakes and Gimcrack Stakes.
He’s the mare’s third winner following Busy One (Safeguard) and Via Monte (Street Boss). Busimiss has a filly foal by Sessions (Lonhro) and was bred back to the Oakland Park stallion in November.
Oakland Park has entered 17 lots for the current Inglis Online Late April Sale. The catalogue can be viewed here and bidding closes on Wednesday April 24.
