Richmond superstar Dustin Martin has it all - an historic Brownlow Medal, premiership medallion and Norm Smith Medal treble, Tigers' best-and-fairest award and now a winning racehorse.
The Dusty Boys syndicate of Martin, four other Richmond players and their assistant coach now has a serious contender for next month's $1.5 million Group One Victoria Derby in Main Stage.
Trained by Richmond supporters Trent Busuttin and Natalie Young, Main Stage came from behind to take out the $120,000 Listed UCI Stakes at Flemington on Saturday for her large group of owners including the Dusty Boys.
The three-year-old gelding will now be targeted at the Group Three Caulfield Classic on Caulfield Cup day in a fortnight, before the Derby on November 4.
"It's only the quarter-final," Young said on Saturday.
"We've got the semi-final and the final to go yet, but this horse just keeps improving after every run."
Martin was not at Flemington for Saturday's race but Young believes he is a good chance to be trackside at Caulfield at least.
Getting the Dusty Boys of Martin, Josh Caddy, Reece Conca, Dion Prestia, Anthony Miles and assistant coach Andrew McQualter to Flemington on Derby Day may be a bit harder.
"I would love to get Dusty and the boys at the Derby," Young said.
"But I did get a little bit of a whisper that one of them is getting married on that day.
"I was like 'that's not on'. Who gets married on Derby Day?
"So we'll have to see."
The small Cranbourne-based Busuttin Racing stable is happy to share its success with the Richmond players, particularly after celebrating the side's 37-year drought-breaking premiership win.
Young and Busuttin are avid Richmond supporters.
It has rubbed off on their six-year-old son Ben, who dresses in Richmond gear every day.
"It's nice that they've come in to share in a horse and we've put them into the right one and it's a good one," Young said.
"Let's hope this horse can get on the main stage on the 4th of November."
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