Red hot favourite Bustling all hustle ahead of Ascot’s Sires’ Produce Stakes

Bustling, the raging favourite for the Group 3 $200,000 WA Sires’ Produce (1400m) at Ascot this Saturday, is in faultless order, according to trainer Dan Morton. Only two weeks ago Bustling produced one of the most dominant Karrakatta Plate wins in history when leading and scorching away to score a jaw-dropping 4.2 length victory. Whilst perpetuating top form in young horses is a difficult task, Morton remains confident his horse is at his best. “He’s very good and he’s pulled up well,” Morton said. “He has a good level of fitness, so it’s more about maintaining his condition at the moment.” Bustling was guided by Brad Parnham in his first two starts, before being handled by Brad’s brother Chris and NSW hoop Blake Shinn at his latest two runs. With his regular ride Sir Dreamalot sent for a spell, who he elected to ride in preference two starts ago, Brad Parnham will renew his connection with Bustling in Saturday’s assignment. Morton has won three WA Sires’ Produce Stakes, but says none surpass his current star two-year-old. “He’s as good a two-year-old as I’ve saddled up,” Morton said. “They need to take the next step to be proper top-liners, but he ran the fastest Karrakatta Plate time ever.” All of Morton’s winners in the event have been fillies, training Bliss Street to score the 2011 edition of the race, followed by Camporella in 2013 and Super Smink last year. Super Smink was sent out a prohibitive $1.18 favourite in last year’s Sires’ Produce after her Karrakatta Plate win, and it is expected Bustling will be a similar quote. With Bustling belying any concerns about his potentially troublesome gate one in the Karrakatta due to his barrier manners, Morton now has no concerns. “I’m not too stressed about the barrier,” Morton said. “I’ve also got Snippy Sean entered for the race.” Snippy Sean made his debut for the stable when running sixth behind Gold Flakes as a $101 outsider on Saturday. + Three-year-old Oscar’s Fortune will join the WA assault on The Goodwood (1200m) on May 11 and continue his subsequent racing career in Victoria to pursue more competitive opportunities. The gelding, who ran third in The Quokka, will be partnered by champion WA hoop William Pike and be joined on the Adelaide flight by fellow Sandgropers Be Optimistic and Laced Up Heels. Be Optimistic will head to The Cummings (1600m) while Laced Up Heels will target the Proud Miss Stakes (1200m), a race that was scooped by WA as recently as 2019 with Lady Cosmology, on May 11. It is anticipated both will have just one South Australian run, before Be Optimistic returns to WA for weight-for-age assignments and Laced Up Heels considers further eastern states endeavours.