Partnership Has Trust In Their Derby Hope
Tuesday, 14 October 2008:  | | Trustus |
The three-year-old has a strong link to both Houlahan and Johnston's late fathers Jim Houlahan and Charlie Johnston.
Johnston's late father Charlie, passed away in 2007 after playing a role in their puchase of Trustus at a yearling sale.
Jim Houlahan, Australia's iconic jumps trainer, also died in 2007 and Fran says the skills she learned from her father have helped mould Trustus as a stayer.
Trustus, purchased at the Karaka yearling sales in New Zealand just days after Charlie Johnston died, was a touchy subject to begin with.
“Brian and I usually collaborate before buying horses, but Brian went out on a limb with Trustus,” Houlahan said.
“When Trustus came into the ring Brian swears he heard his father's voice tell him to buy the horse so he just went ahead and paid $NZ44,000 for him without consulting me.”
All was forgiven as soon as Trustus entered the stable with the partners formed a big opinion of him from day one.
In two runs this campaign, Trustus has confirmed he is on track to be a chance in the AAMI Victoria Derby.
First-up he finished just over four lengths behind Fernandina when eighth in the Caulfield Guineas Prelude (1400m) and last time he improved for fifth, beaten less than three lengths in Listed company over 1800m at Flemington.
“Flemington was a great run,” Houlahan said.
“From his wide barrier he had a tough run and had to work to the lead. He was still punching on in the closing stages and the horses which beat him had much easier runs.”
Trustus will have his Derby prep in Saturday's $125,000 AAMI Norman Robinson Stakes (2000m) at Caulfield where he will be ridden by Danny Brereton, who has a lot of faith in the young stayer.
“He just loves him and he's an outstanding judge,” Houlahan said of Brereton.
Houlahan and Johnston became part of Victorian racing history last year when they were among the first intake of training partnerships.
They couple have a team of 20 in work and train from the Rosebud property Jim Houlahan made famous.
“If Trustus makes the Derby I will have gone one up on him as Dad never had a Derby runner,” she said.
“Like Dad, Brian and I enjoy training stayers. We'd like to think it's an area where we can create a niche as a stable.
“We go looking for horses with staying pedigrees at not huge prices.”
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