Cloudy a part of Most Cup-qualifiers

The approach Busuttin Racing now take to ballot-exempt races with Mostly Cloudy differs from his first, the 2023 The Lexus Bart Cummings, when the ‘golden ticket’ was arguably more appealing than the prizemoney.

“We’re no longer under any illusions about Melbourne Cup glory with him, it’s more a case that they’re the races are most suitable for him,” Busuttin said.

“He’s just a dead-set two-mile horse. This race is 2800 and that’s as suitable as you’re going to get at this time of year.

“It’s a good prizemoney race and we’d obviously love to win it.”

Mostly Cloudy was beaten just half-a-length by The Map in last year’s Andrew Ramsden, having earlier run third, beaten three-quarters-of-a-length when, in the Listed Roy Higgins (2600m).

His 2024 Spring campaign was geared around securing a Lexus Melbourne Cup berth via the spring’s two ballot-exempt races; The Lexus Bart Cummings and the Lexus Archer Stakes, which was last year moved from its traditional spot on Derby Day to Crown Makybe Diva Stakes Day.

The son of Harzand finished 12^th and fourth in those events but still snuck his way into the Lexus Melbourne Cup, where he finished 18^th, meaning there was a lot of Spring stress over nothing.

While it is not the priority it once was with Mostly Cloudy, Busuttin said the prospect of booking a Cup spot months out from the first Tuesday in November was a great lure from a trainer’s perspective.

“It’s fantastic incentive,” the Cranbourne horseman said.

“A case in point is this horse. He never won any of those races last year and we were still borderline two weeks out as to whether we got a run in the Cup.

“If you win one early, you can set your preparation solely around it instead of having to race your way into it.

“Everything’s always been heavily in favour of the overseas cup runners, so it’s good to look after your local owners.”

Two starts ago Mostly Cloudy ran third in this year’s Lexus Roy Higgins, beaten 4.4 lengths by Deakin, and at his only start since resulted in what Busuttin labelled a career-best fourth, beaten 4.1 lengths by Arapaho, in the Group 1 Sydney Cup (3200m).

“This week it looks to be the same bunch of horses that have been going around,” he said.

“They’re the same as him, they’ve been on the scene for a while and nothing’s really got the flashing light as a young, up-and-coming horse.

“I’m sure he’ll run well, I’m sure he’ll run top five, and it’d be nice to win.”

Mostly Cloudy will carry the No 8 saddlecloth in the set-weights Lexus Andrew Ramsden, which has brought together a massive field of 18 plus four emergencies. He drew barrier 16 but will start from 12 if the reserves fail to gain a start.

His rivals includes Group 1 TAB Turnbull Stakes winner Smokin’ Romans, multiple Group 2 winner Military Mission, last year’s Sydney Cup runner-up Athabascan, Berkshire Breeze and emerging stayers Torranzino and Denmark.

Mostly Cloudy’s ballot-exempt race record

2025 Golden Ticket Races

Find all the 2025 Lexus Melbourne Cup golden ticket race information here