Field Of Play wins first race in Drummond Golf Handicap at Moonee Valley

Trent Busuttin and Natalie Young’s Field Of Play made his long-awaited debut on Saturday in the Drummond Golf Handicap at Moonee Valley. The two-year-old gelding put in a dominant performance and looks already set to be worth the NZ$500,000 that was paid for him at the Karaka Yearling sale in June. Field Of Play finished first, three and a quarter lengths ahead of the runner up, Tom. The Ciaron Maher-trained Jenni Gone Bonkers finished in third.

Field Of Play meets expectations

As dominant as Field of Play’s first run was, the result was completely expected.

You would not find one Moonee Valley tips piece from last week that didn’t discuss Field Of Play as a likely winner for this race.

The betting sites also backed the gelding. Field Of Play was the favourite ahead of the race with $2.70 chances to win.

Tom, the runner up, exceeded the betting apps expectations. The Philip Stokes-trained horse had just $16 chances. Jenni Gone Bonkers, who finished third, had $7 odds to win.

Blake Shinn backs new horse

Blake Shinn rode the winning horse at Moonee Valley on Saturday. After the race, the experienced jockey had nothing but good things to say about Field Of Play.

“I was pleasantly surprised how well he rounded the leader (Neverenoughlego) up, who appeared to be the hardest to beat,” Shinn said.

“He treated his rivals with contempt. It was a dominant display.”

Shinn said that he thinks Field Of Play needs a little more time to develop. He also added that the gelding may be more suited for longer races than the 1200m romp on Saturday.

“I think he’s probably more of a Caulfield Guineas-style of horse –a mile type– but what he did today over 1200 was very, very impressive,” Shinn said.

Trainers look ahead

Shinn was not the only one looking into Field Of Play’s future after the race. Co-trainer Trent Busuttin had high praise for his gelding and said that he may be ready for Group 1 races this season.

However, Busuttin also revealed that he and his team plan on being very deliberate about the choices they make with Field Of Play.

He admitted that they already have gotten some things wrong with the horse's development so far.

“He was up and going early in the spring even though he’s not a real two-year-old type, he throws a bit to I Am Invincible, which is obviously a good thing,

“But he was ready to go and we gave him those first two-year-old trials and he got it a bit wrong, a bit lost,” Busuttin explained. 

“Luke Currie gave him a big wrap. He said, ‘wait for 1200, over 1000 metres it could go badly wrong’, so we tipped him out and gave him a break and here he is,” he added.