3 minute read

He’s been tagged the next big thing to come out of WA racing and has now found a new home interstate.

Perth's precocious talent, Bustling, will continue his Australian career under Mick Price and Michael Kent Jr and Melbourne's leading co-trainers are confident he will live up to his $2 million price tag.

After his two-year-old heroics in Perth, Bustling will step into Price and Kent's Caulfield base stacked with confidence and growing hype after underlining star power in Perth this season.

Bustling gave an early sign of what was to come in the Listed Perth Stakes (1100m), but that maiden black-type  success at his third start was franked and validated in the Karrakatta Plate (1200m).

Perth's richest and most prestigious two-year-old race was reduced to a one act affair with Bustling doing as he pleased in front and scoring by 4 ¼ lengths from his closest rival.

The winning margin in the Group 3 WA Sires' (1400m) was not as great as the Karrakatta Plate, but no less impressive, with a second feature double never in jeopardy.

At the end of his first season of racing, Bustling, an Oakland Park Stud homebred, won four races from five starts with one second placing for earnings of just over half a million dollars.

"It's been a pleasure to deal with Dan Morton and Neville and Susan Duncan and Carol Morton and Mr McDonald," Kent Jr said on Tabradio.

"We have acquired the horse with some of our stable clients to come across here.

"It's very exciting and he looks a real, real talent.

"I can't wait to bring him across when the time is right.

"I don't watch every Perth race, but he's been hard to miss.

"We're always looking for bright prospects, whether it's here or abroad.

"Most horses like this are not for sale and it was pleasing to know there was an option to do something."

Bustling continued Morton's good affinity with WA's best two-year-old races.

After Super Smink 12-months ago, the multiple Group 1 winning trainer won the Karrakatta Plate-WA Sires' double for the second straight year.

Kent Jr said Morton will continue to have an association with Bustling.

"Dan's staying in for a small piece and that's a massive positive," Kent Jr said.

"He'll be able to guide us through the next stage of his career."

How that career trajectory will unfold is uncertain, but Kent Jr admitted the $20 million The Everest (1200m) in Sydney held obvious appeal.

"There's a lot of water to go under the bridge," Kent Jr said.

"It's the formative stages.

"I guess it's the obvious race to think of if you have a nice sprinter on your hands.

"That race has been good to three-year-olds.

"And it appears to be a changing of the guard at the moment in Australia with the sprinting ranks.

"I think there is a spot there for a bright young prospect.

"It will be nice to have a slot secured early in the piece.

"We've got a lot to work out, it's really early days."

Oakland Park Stud head boss Neville Duncan, welcomed the Bustling sale.

"As a breeder, I think it's fantastic news," Duncan said.

"It's a great opportunity to see him still race in Australia.

"I couldn't be happier."