Thebudgiesmugla adds Queen Elizabeth II Cup to perfect 2400m record

Emerging stayer Thebudgiesmugla (NZ) (Redwood) has never been beaten over 2400m, and he added a fourth win to that unblemished record when he stepped up to stakes level in Saturday’s A$200,000 Listed Queen Elizabeth II Cup at Rosehill.

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.

The five-year-old was sent out as a $2 favourite on Saturday as he faced the toughest assignment in his career to date, and Thebudgiesmugla did not disappoint.

Ridden by Dylan Gibbons, Thebudgiesmugla relaxed nicely in third behind Black Run (Nathaniel) and Sayedaty Sadaty (Anodin).

Gibbons angled Thebudgiesmugla out to the middle of the track at the top of the straight, and he unleashed an irresistible finish over the top of Black Run to win by three-quarters of a length.

“He is built so athletic and he’s got the best attitude,” Gibbons said. “He saves every penny, and he can be tough and outstay them all day.”

Racing in the colours of syndicators Darby Racing, Thebudgiesmugla has now had 12 starts for six wins, a placing and A$342,724 in stakes. His four starts over 2400m have produced four victories.

Baker’s racing manager Luke Hilton said Thebudgiesmugla is now likely to point towards the A$500,000 Listed Caloundra Cup (2400m) at the Sunshine Coast on July 4.

“I was getting itchy feet coming to the corner today and willing Dylan to get going on him, because we know he takes time to wind up,” Hilton said. “But he really fights when he gets there. He doesn’t really dash, but he keeps grinding. He’s still really raw, and I think there is plenty to come.

“We needed to see him win it, and we needed to see him do it on top of the ground if he’s going to be competitive in better races. We’d like to go to the Caloundra Cup with him. It’s in three weeks, 2400m, good prize-money race. It’s also a good form race for a few other races later in the year – Half Yours (St Jean) won that race last year, so we’ll head the same way.”

Thebudgiesmugla was a private purchase from New Zealand where he won two races for original trainer Jo Rathbone.

Rathbone paid just $3,000 for the son of Redwood, who was sold via gavelhouse.com as a broken-in gelding.

Bred by Bradbury Park, Thebudgiesmugla is out of the winning Keeper mare Hot Pants (NZ).