Budgies on full display in Caloundra Cup romp

Emerging stayer Thebudgiesmugla (NZ) (Redwood) is fast becoming a fan favourite, with the Kiwi import coming from well back to land the A$500,000 Listed Caloundra Cup (2400m) in dominant fashion as a well-supported $2.35 favourite.

The New Zealand-bred son of Redwood has wasted little time in making an impression since crossing the Tasman less than a year ago to join Bjorn Baker’s Warwick Farm stable.

He put together back-to-back wins over 2400m at Rosehill in October and November, then returned to that form with another convincing victory over that distance at Randwick on May 23.

After stepping up to stakes level last start to snare the Listed Queen Elizabeth II Cup (2400m) at Rosehill, Thebudgiesmugla extended his unbeaten record over 2400m to five.

Winning rider Dylan Gibbons postponed a trip to Fiji to ride the five-year-old gelding and his decision paid dividends.

“Fair play to Bjorn, they wanted me to ride him like he was the best horse in the race and he showed he was,” Gibbons said.

“We didn’t want to ride him too close so we had to trust the horse and trust the plan. I didn’t anticipate being that far back, so I was a little concerned but it didn’t matter. There aren’t too many horses that can pop out at the half mile mark and circle the field and still get there too soon.

“I’ll really enjoy it when he learns to put a race away, but his turn of foot is exciting for a stayer, which is what is winning him these races. He put a space on them then when they came back at him, he was off and gone again.

“He’s a ripper and I’m just glad to be a part of it.

“It was definitely worth postponing the trip to Fiji because it’s all paid for after today.”

Thebudgiesmugla is another successful private purchase from New Zealand by syndicator Darby Racing.

"Thebudgiesmugla just keeps improving,'' trainer Bjorn Baker said.

"He's only lightly-raced, he's a typical Kiwi stayer who is still maturing and he will be even better again next season.

"There is some thought to going to the Grafton Cup and, although you never make decisions on raceday, I'm leaning to giving him a break and setting him for the spring carnival.

"I'll have to sit down with the owners and work out what we do with this horse, you can't run in everything, but we don't know how good he is just yet because he keeps raising the bar every start.''

The gelding had four starts for two wins in his native New Zealand for trainer Jo Rathbone, winning a maiden highweight over 2200m at Ellerslie and a Rating 65 also over 2200m at Te Aroha this time last year.

Purchased for just $3,000 on gavelhouse.com by Rathbone as a broken-in unnamed three-year-old, Thebudgiesmugla was bred by Bradbury Park and is by Redwood out of the Keeper mare Hot Pants.

Thebudgiesmugla is a half-brother to Bella Bonita, a two-year-old filly by Noverre who caught the eye when third in the Listed Champagne Stakes (1600m) at Ellerslie in May.

Now the winner of seven of his 13 starts, Thebudgiesmugla advanced his career earnings to A$642,724.