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By Glenn Davis
Deagon trainer Patrick Busuttin hopes to celebrate his daughter Julie's “student of the year” award in her final year of studies with a victory from Likeabeel at Kilcoy on Thursday.
The three-kilogram claimer is set to partner Likeabeel in the New Year Cup over 1500 metres.
“Julie’s ridden 14 winners so far and she’s only been riding for five months,” Patrick said.
“She’s 18 and has just finished her final year at school and was awarded the student of the year from all the school-based apprentices.
“There were 60 school-based apprentices and her studies counted to her grades at the end of the year. We didn’t know she was getting the award and it was a great plug for racing.”
Julie has ridden Likeabeel in barrier trials but had her first race ride on the gelding when he finished sixth in a field of eight in a 1350 metre Benchmark race at Warwick on Boxing Day.
“It was too short for him and we were just happy for him to go around as it was his first run in,” Patrick said.
“He picked up some late ground on them and he always runs a lot better second-up.”
Patrick believes the nine-year-old Likeabeel will appreciate stepping out in trip to 1500 metres.
“He’s stepping up to 1500 metres which suits him a lot better and we’re hoping the predicted rain comes,” Patrick said.
“He’s come through his last run very well and he should be right in the finish if we get a wet track.”
Patrick plans only a short campaign for the veteran before a break to prepare for his defence of the Provincial Stayers Final he won at Ipswich last June.
“He’ll only have a few more runs then go for a short break and come back for the Provincial Stayers series,” Patrick said.
Likeabeel won last year’s Provincial Stayers Final when ridden by Irish jockey Robbie Dolan.
Patrick is semi-retired and trains a small team of three horses at Deagon while working part-time mentoring stable hands for Racing Queensland.
He moved to Deagon five years ago after a star-studded career where he won multiple Group 1s in four countries - Australia, New Zealand, Singapore and Macau.
He is best remembered by Queenslanders as the trainer of former top Kiwi stayer Castletown.
Castletown won three Wellington Cups, an Auckland Cup and a New Zealand Derby, all at Group 1 level.
Kilcoy | Kilcoy Race Club | 1:10 PM
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