After abandoning the race in tragic circumstances on New Year's Day, take two of the $500,000 Group II Perth Cup (2400m) at Ascot on Saturday proved a triumph for Buster Bash.
Under a daring ride by Shaun McGruddy, the David Harrison-trained son of Trade Fair (GB) was set alight at the 600m, and it was just a matter of how far.
The answer to that was four and a quarter lengths over the 8yo Demerit gelding Stafford's Lad with a length and a quarter back to the 5yo So You Think mare Pure Devotion in third.
It was the sixth win in the last eight starts for Buster Bash, which included the Listed Luckygray Stakes and Listed GA Townton Cup at his most recent start.
The 5yo gelding advances his record to 10 wins, three seconds, and three thirds from 23 starts with earnings of $727,820.
That's a huge result for a horse purchased for $10,000 after he was consigned to the 2019 Perth Magic Millions with a $15,000 reserve but was passed in when bidding stalled at $5,000.
Harrison admitted he was surprised when McGruddy pressed the button early.
"I thought, 'I hope you know what you are doing Shaun". But he knew what he had under him and won well," Harrison said.
"He is a little champ – the further he goes the better he likes it.
"He is a nuggety sprinting type, but has turned out to be a stayer.
"When my old mate Buster Riordan was dying of motor neuron disease, I said I would name a horse after him because he was a tough fighter, so we named the horse after him."
Buster Bash is the best of six winners from seven to race out of the Zeditave mare Disco Miss
A half-sister to stakes-placegetters Lord Prevail (Woodman) and Handsome Hansel (Hansel) from a winning three-quarter sister to Epsom Derby hero Secreto, Disco Miss has a Gingerbread Man filly entered for the Perth Magic Millions (Lot80).
The former Alwyn Park resident Trade Fair (GB) has had an outstanding season, highlighted by the win of Trix Of The Trade in the Group 1 WATC Railway Stakes.
The son of Zafonic died in 2018. He sired 19 stakes-winners.
