Kiwi trainer Trent Busuttin is keeping his feet on the ground as he sets about preparing exciting three year-old colt El Roca for another tilt at Australian gold in the coming months.

El Roca (3c Fastnet Rock – Rubimill by Rubiton) hasn’t raced since finishing an unlucky fifth in the G1 Caulfield Guineas.  He returned to Busuttin’s Cambridge stables recently and had his first gallop this prep last week.

“He had a light gallop and handled it well so we are happy with him at this stage,” said Busuttin.  “He is pretty full of himself at the moment and is a handful both on and off the track but he will settle down as we start to increase his workload.”

Busuttin is undecided as to the first major target for the colt with two options currently in mind.  “We are looking at either the Australian Guineas at Flemington on March 1 or the Randwick Guineas two weeks later.

“Obviously, as a son of Fastnet Rock, we have to consider his stallion prospects so a lot of what we will do will have that opportunity as part of the decision making process.

“Races like the George Ryder Stakes or the Doncaster Handicap are longer term options but first and foremost we have to get him back to the track and back to his best.”

El Roca’s dam Rubimill is a sister to Millrich.  The latter was a Group 3 winner of the 1999 Sweet Embrace Stakes and is the dam of successful sire Danerich.

Bradbury Park will offer a Not a Single Doubt – Rubimill colt as Lot 218 at the 2014 NZB Karaka yearling sale.