Trainer Trent Busuttin completed a mission conceived almost twelve months ago when Sangster (NZ) won the G1 Victoria Derby (2500m) at Flemington on Saturday.

Sangster (3g Savabeel – Quinta Special by Spectrum) was purchased from the 2010 NZ Bloodstock 2YO Ready to Run Sale last year in the hope of Derby glory.  He was a $19,000 buy from the Kilgravin Lodge draft.

“He’s got a staying pedigree and we bought him with the Derby in mind and everything’s gone to plan,” Busuttin beamed.  “He showed us he could gallop from day one.”

Sangster established a winning break in the straight under Hugh Bowman who had won the Victorian Derby on fellow (NZ) bred Lion Tamer last year.

Darley rep Induna (Elusive Quality) was the unlucky runner in the classic.  He was badly checked twice in running and only went down a head on the line.  Sabrage (Charge Forward) was another length away in third place.

Sangster won on debut by six lengths at Hawera in May and then crossed the Tasman to win at Warwick Farm in August.  He followed up with placings in the G1 Spring Champion Stakes at Randwick and the G3 Norman Robinson Stakes at Caulfield.

His sire Savabeel is a Waikato Stud based son of Zabeel.  He got the Derby winner from Irish bred mare Quinta Special who won over 1800m at Wolverhampton in November 2002 before arriving in New Zealand the following year.

Second dam Al Galop (Affirmed) was a 2200m winner at Longchamp and she is a half-sister to Santa Anita Group 1 winner Both Ends Burning.

Quinta Special has a Savabeel filly that will be eligible for the 2012 NZB Karaka yearling sale.