THE Bel Esprit Stakes (1100m) will prove to be a pivotal race for two exciting sprinters Bustling and Bellatrix Star who are on the comeback trail when they clash at Caulfield on Saturday.
Both of the four-year-olds were sidelined for over a year with injuries.
The former brilliant Perth two-year-old Bustling was out for 86 weeks before he resumed with a pleasing third in a BM84 (1000m) at Caulfield on May 9.
It was only his second start for Mick Price and Michael Kent Junior after he was purchased by stable clients in 2024 with the plan to run in The Everest Stakes which was abandoned after his only other start for them which produced an eighth in the 2024 G2 Run To The Rose at Rosehill.
Bustling’s lengthy stint from racing was due to a multitude of niggles and not a major injury.
Kent Junior said the stable was thrilled with Bustling’s first-up run carrying 62 kilos and noted he drops to 54 kilos on Saturday.
“The rise in distance will suit as he’s never raced over 1000 metres before. There were a fair few things against him first-up. He gave eight (kilograms) to the winner and 10kgs to the second horse and he kept coming,” Kent Junior said to Racing.Com after he worked at Sandown in between races last Saturday.
“We haven’t asked to see it just yet – that was his main piece of work between runs, so naturally he will improve. The main thing with him is to get him fit now. He’s a lovely big horse. He’s not given us any worry at all this preparation. He’s been very good,” he said.
Bustling carried a whopping 62 kilograms when placed third at his first run back from a long lay-off at Caulfield earlier this month and he will carry a much lighter impost on Saturday as he moved from a BM84 to listed level.
“He’ll drop from 62 down to the minimum I’d daresay as he’s just an 88 (rater). Craig (Williams) will ride him,” Kent Jnr said.
Bustling will be ridden by Craig Williams and is $3.50 with Unibet.
Bellatrix Star showed her class as a three-year-old filly winning a G2 and G3 race and she also finished second in the G1 Coolmore Stakes.
She’s since had one start since the 2024 spring which produced a last at Caulfield in November last year.
Te Akau Racing’s Ben Gleeson told Racenet that Bellatrix Star had fetlock surgery which was the reason she was out for a lengthy period of time.
She then came back for a run late last year where she finished last before being given another break.
Gleeson said if Bellatrix Star can run well she will be given a break and be back for spring.
Bellatrix Star will be ridden by Luke Currie and is a $17 chance with Unibet.
