Not A Single Doubt's Cusack Books His Ticket to the Gold Coast

Mark Smith - Saturday November 20

The Not A Single Doubt colt Cusack earned his ticket for the $2million Magic Millions 2yo Classic in January when making a winning debut in Saturday’s $250,000 Magic Millions Ballarat 2yo Classic (1000m).

Flashy chestnut Cusack hold the fast-finishing Cover Star (image Brett Holburt/Racing Photos)

With Craig Newitt in the saddle for trainers Trent Busuttin & Natalie Young, Cusack clung to a nose victory over Matt Cumani’s fast-finishing Star Witness filly Cover Star with the Clayton Douglas-trained Starspangledbanner colt Epic Centre a further length back in third.

“He was tough. He didn’t do everything 100 per cent,” Busuttin said.  

Advertisement

“He was off the bridle on the point of the turn. I thought, ‘you’re in trouble.’ He was hanging out from the horse inside (of) him, but he hung tough.

“For a great bunch of owners - ladies that got together and bought the horse. They’ll be chasing that Ladies Bonus up on the Gold Coast.

“That is certainly a lot harder, but he’s basically got his ticket in the race, so all being well, we’ll go up there.

“It’s good to get new owners involved, and I’m rapt for them.

“He’ll have a little break now - get him racing around that way and get up there.”

Cusack was a bit of a grump in the saddling paddock, giving Newitt a bit of a scare.

Happy connections heading to the Gold Coast (image Pat Scala/Racing Photos)

“He’s a funny horse. He’s really quiet at home, and I was a bit surprised,” Newitt said.

“I said to the guys that if you didn’t know him, you’d be worried about getting on him.

“He tried to cow-kick me but once he set foot on the track he was a deadset kids pony.

“He’s the ultimate professional and he’s got the ability to go with it.”

Cusack was the equal most expensive horse in the field. Busuttin Racing purchased the son of Not a Single Doubt for $200,000 out of the Fernrigg Farm draft at the 2021 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.

Cosaack a $200,000 Magic Millions Yearling

Fernrigg will offer a full sister to Cusack at the Magic Millions in January.

Cusack is the first winner of two to race out of the winning Street Hero mare Belle Que. She is one of 36 live foals from the final crop of Arrowfield Stud’s Not A Single Doubt.

Fernrigg Farm purchased Belle Que for $150,000 from the Edinburgh Park draft at the 2018 National Broodmare Sale when carrying a filly by Written Tycoon.

From the family of Criterion, Comin’ Through, Malice and Bull Point, Belle Que was covered by Microphone last year.

Advertisment

Race Result - Mm Ballarat 2yo Classic 1000m

Ballarat Track: Good(4) Time: 0:58.00
1
Cusack
- 2c Not A Single Doubt (AUS) x Belle Que (AUS) (Street Hero (USA))
Tnr: T Busuttin & N Young Rdr: C Newitt 58
2
0.1
Cover Star
- 2f Star Witness (AUS) x Cover Charge (AUS) (General Nediym (AUS))
Tnr: Matthew Cumani Rdr: Fred W Kersley 56
3
1.1
Epic Centre
- 2c Starspangledbanner (AUS) x Shake That (AUS) (Toorak Toff (AUS))
Tnr: Clayton Douglas Rdr: L Currie 58
4
1.8
Kings Consort
- 2c Ilovethiscity (AUS) x Peckish (AUS) (Snitzel (AUS))
Tnr: A & S Freedman Rdr: Jye McNeil 58
5
2.6
Nannu
- 2c Rubick (AUS) x Jessamin (AUS) (Stratum (AUS))
Tnr: Mark & Levi Kavanagh Rdr: L Nolen 58
6
2.8
Nothing Silly
- 2c Rubick (AUS) x Royal Tower (AUS) (Valixir (IRE))
Tnr: K L Corstens Rdr: B Prebble 58
7
2.9
Negation
- 2f Hellbent (AUS) x Gloray (AUS) (Street Hero (USA))
Tnr: Kurt Goldman Rdr: B Mc Dougall 56
8
3.1
Fly Nice
- 2f Impending (AUS) x Sparkle (AUS) (More Than Ready (USA))
Tnr: C Maher & D Eustace Rdr: Ms L J Meech 56
9
3.2
Arts Object
- 2f Zoustar (AUS) x Ringhals (AUS) (Street Cry (IRE))
Tnr: Kurt Goldman Rdr: Damien Thornton 56
10
5.9
Le Gagneur
- 2c Shalaa (IRE) x Rationality (AUS) (Flying Spur (AUS))
Tnr: R Griffiths & M De Kock Rdr: Lachlan King 58
11
6.1
Hercules Morse
- 2c Caravaggio (USA) x Girluphigh (IRE) (Unbridled's Song (USA))
Tnr: C Maher & D Eustace Rdr: John Allen 58
12
7.1
Onlyhereforthebeer
- 2g Your Song (AUS) x Miss Kindilan (AUS) (Written Tycoon (AUS))
Tnr: Archie Alexander Rdr: Jordan Childs 58
More Reading...
Autumn Glow Epsom Challenge - Just How Big Is This Task?
With the unbeaten Autumn Glow set to run as the first odds-on favourite this century in the Epsom Handicap on Saturday we thought we’d run some data to see how big this mountain is that she’s attempting to climb, and turns out, it’s pretty big.
Resolute Racing Purchase Top Lot Goffs Orby Day 1
The Goffs Orby Yearling Sale kicked off overnight and the top lot on Day 1 was a colt by Blue Point purchased by John Stewart’s Resolute Bloodstock for €675,000, while Wootton Bassett produced the top selling filly, whose half-brother Trinity College is now in Australia.
Karaka Million Dreaming for Out of the Blue
Te Akau Racing marketing manager Julia-Rose Hayes has had plenty of success syndicating horses selected by her father, David Ellis, and that has continued with her latest syndicate.
She's Unusual Keeps Good Times Rolling
Continued success with resident stallion Unusual Suspect and their racing team has kept Nigel and Adaire Auret busier than they may have envisaged, but without any complaints.
Equimillion This Long Weekend – Draws and Start Lists
Racing NSW have their annual Equimillion event coming up this long weekend at Sydney International Equestrian Centre at Horsley Park and for people interested in off the trackers it’s a showcase for the sport, so let’s take a look at who’s who in the zoo.
Goffs Orby Day 2 - Trio of Million Dollar Yearling Fillies
The second day of the Goffs Orby Yearling Sale took off overnight with three individual yearlings selling for a million or more with the full sister to dual Group I winning champion 2YO Colt Blackbeard selling for €1.9 million to MV Magnier.
Sires With Winners - Tuesday September 30
Here is the full list of 27 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
2025 G1 Epsom Handicap Field and Barrier Draw
The field and barrier draw has been decided for the Group I Epsom Handicap on Saturday with odds-on favourite and unbeaten mare Autumn Glow drawing the extreme outside gate in a field of 14.
2025 G1 The Metropolitan Field and Barrier Draw
Chris Waller and Ciaron Maher are set to have half of the Group I Metropolitan field between them with the Waller trained Birdman an easing favourite after drawing a wide gate for Saturday’s race.
Youngsters Impress Leading into Magic Millions Horses in Training Sale
The build up to the 2025 Magic Millions Gold Coast Horses in Training Sale has intensified with a swag of impressive breeze up performances over the past week.