Likeabeel looks to Jericho Cup heat at the Gold Coast

By Glenn Davis

A spot in the Jericho Cup at Warrnambool next month will be up for grabs when a heat of the Victorian feature is held at the Gold Coast on Saturday.

However, Deagon trainer Patrick Busuttin is reluctant to commit his dour stayer Likeabeel for a second interstate trip when the gelding steps out in the 3200 metre Jericho Cup heat.

The Jericho Cup is Australia’s longest flat race and is held over the Grand Annual course at Warrnambool in Victoria each year.

It’s a $304,000 Benchmark 90 race and will be run over 4600 metres on November 30.

Queensland was represented last year by the Paul Duncan-trained stayer Glen Massey who finished third, more than 20 lengths from local Warrnambool stayer Farag on a heavy track.

The Lindsay Gough-trained Grand Shanghai ran in the previous year’s feature but could only manage seventh in his final race start behind Nassak Diamond.

Busuttin favours spelling Likeabeel who is coming off a last start sixth in a 2370 metre Benchmark race at Grafton on October 21.

“He’s not a big horse and doesn’t carry big weights which is what they get in the Jericho Cup,” Busuttin said.

“He’s a 10-year-old now and his last run at Grafton was a bit disappointing.

“He comes into this Gold Coast race on Saturday well and he’ll go well if it’s a wet track as he loves it.”

Busuttin has booked jockey Dale Smith for Likeabeel. 

The stayer won four starts back over 2200 metres at the Sunshine Coast last month.

“He’ll have no trouble running 3200 metres and lot in it can’t,” Busuttin said.

“He’s won over 2500 metres and was placed over 3100 metres when I sent him down two years ago to my son Trent in Victoria.”

Busuttin is semi-retired and trains a small team of three at Deagon where he also works part-time mentoring stablehands for Racing Queensland.

He is best remembered as the trainer of former top Kiwi strayer Castletown who campaigned in Brisbane during the 1994 winter carnival.

Castletown won three Wellington Cups, an Auckland Cup and a New Zealand Derby, which were all at Group 1 level.

Busuttin has trained Group 1 winners in four countries - Australia, New Zealand, Singapore and Macau.

He also tutored champion Sydney trainer Chris Waller before he left New Zealand to train for 10 years in Singapore.

Busuttin paid only $900 for Likeabeel at an online auction after he started off with Roma trainer Craig Smith.