Richmond Tigers team builder Main Stage ready to add crystal to 2017 haulChris Roots
The Age
2 November 2017What was supposed to be a team-building exercise for Richmond assistant coach Andrew McQualter and his group of midfielders is set to add a another chapter to a remarkable 2017.
The Tigers took the AFL flag in September, but on one of Melbourne's other biggest sporting days, Main Stage will start favourite for the Dustys Boys syndicate in the Victoria Derby at Flemington on Saturday.
"We never expected to suit-up on Derby day. It is a dream for people in the racing industry," McQualter said. "We have just been very lucky to get a pretty good horse.
"It has just been one of those years. We haven't expected a lot of things."
It might be only a 5 per cent share of Main Stage but the midfield group, led by Brownlow and Norm Smith medallist Dustin Martin, might pick up a piece of crystal from the Derby which would be more unexpected than the flag.
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McQualter remembers simply wanting to bring his players to together when he Whatsapped the group of Martin, Reece Conca, Dion Prestia, Toby Nankervis, Anthony Miles and Josh Caddy in January.
"Our VFL runner Richie Horrocks, who is in Main Stage, had been at me for a while to get into a horse. When this bloke came up I sent the group a message and said I'm taking a bit of him and would they like to be involved," McQualter said. "They all got back pretty quickly and said yes.
"It was just something to do together away from footy to have a bit of fun.
"Something a bit different. We had a few new guys to the club and it was something that I thought would bring us together.
"As it turns out a couple of the other boys at the club are wishing they were in my group now.
"None of us really had a big interest in racing, other than socially, but it has given a different experience and journey in the past month, especially."
For former New Zealand co-trainer Trent Busuttin it has been a totally different experience to have a superstar involved in one of his three Derby hopes.
"It is like training for the All Blacks captain but bigger," Busuttin said.
"Everyone knows Main Stage as Dustin's horse but there is a big group of owners and my business manager Dan Moylan has done a big job to get them involved.
"He has been a horse that has just kept getting better as he has stepped up in trip and I am pretty confident he will stay the 2500 metres on Saturday."
It is a long way from his first start at Warrnambool carnival, where he was third in a two-year-old race.
"I remember the first race and we were all at work and we got the mids into the room to watch it, and we were over the moon when he ran third," McQualter said. "We were just excited to see him running on television.
"It was a tough caper, so I made sure the boys knew we weren't doing it to make money because I have had a few mates that have been in horses that never raced.
"They would be a bit jealous of him."
A spell followed for Main Stage and as Richmond were making their rise to glory in September, Main Stage won its third start at Kilmore and then ran second on the Wednesday of grand final week in the Derby trial at Flemington. Another win followed over 1800 metres in Listed company before he was third in the Caulfield Classic.
"He just raced a bit flat that day but I think he really likes Flemington and the long stretches will bring his best out," Busuttin said. "He has really trained on since and I expect him to be very strong on Saturday."
Busuttin and partner Natalie Young, who won a Victoria Derby with Sangster, also have Sully and Johnny Vinko in the Derby after focusing on buying staying prospects.
"To have three in a Derby is fantastic. The only thing that would be better would be to win it," he said.
http://www.theage.com.au/sport/horseracing/tigers-team-builder-main-stage-ready-to-add-crystal-to-2017-haul-20171101-gzcubo.html
