Guineas next on Natural Achiever’s programme

11 December 2015

Cambridge three-year-old Natural Achiever will put his unbeaten record on the line against the best of his age group on New Year’s Day.

He kept his perfect form line intact at Trentham to prompt trainers Trent Busuttin and Natalie Young to set the son of Savabeel for the Gr.2 Great Northern Guineas at Ellerslie.

“He’s only a small fellow, but he is strong,” Busuttin said. “He didn’t cost a lot and he is by the right sire so he’s going to keep improving.”

A $30,000 Karaka purchase, Natural Achiever was a trial winner on his home track before he easily beat the older horses in a Te Rapa maiden last month and with a minimum of effort on Saturday he repeated the dose.

The gelding led early before settling in the trail and rider Opie Bosson had him in the clear on straightening to coast to a comfortable victory.

“That man on top is worth two lengths – he’s the best in the business,” Busuttin said.

Natural Achiever made the long trip south worthwhile for the stable after their travelling party was cut in half with the forced withdrawal of Caorunn from the Gr.2 Wakefield Challenge Stakes.

An elevated temperature resulted in the Listed Karaka Million contender’s scratching, but it won’t keep him out of action for long.

The Showcasing youngster, who currently sits in ninth sport in the order of entry to the Ellerslie feature, is expected to step out at Te Rapa this Saturday.

Runner-up on debut behind Tennessee, Caorunn hasn’t raced since he was a clear-cut winner at Otaki in September. – NZ Racing Desk.

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The Corner with Garry Chittick

The writing of my Corner started many years ago, motivated by an irritation that I felt needed scratching. It was never my intention to make my commentary regular; neither did I intend to reinvent the direction of racing administration. It is both disappointing and ironical that what should be a simple, straightforward business provides a regular need for comment.

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