Cloudy chasing Cup start at Flemington

The Trent Busuttin and Natalie Young stable are hoping to rewind the clock 12 months to the last time Mostly Cloudy was successful. 

That victory over 2500m was at the corresponding Flemington meeting Mostly Cloudy ran at last year when he ran out a comfortable two-length winner. 

The problem with that victory, the race was not a qualifier for the Melbourne Cup. 

On Saturday, Mostly Cloudy heads to the Group 3 Archer Stakes (2500m) which this year provides the winner with a ballot exemption into the Group 1 Melbourne Cup (3200m) at Flemington on November 5. 

The Archer Stakes has been transferred this year from its traditional date on Victoria Derby Day which provided a last-gasp opportunity for those looking to secure a Melbourne Cup start. 

Following his victory at Flemington last year, Mostly Cloudy had two shots at securing a Melbourne Cup start, but fell short, finishing fourth in The Bart Cummings and then fifth in the Archer Stakes, both times at Flemington. 

Busuttin and Young tried to win a Cup start earlier in the year, however Mostly Cloudy ran third in the Roy Higgins Quality (2600m) in March and later a closing second to The Map in the Andrew Ramsden Stakes (2800m) in May, again both times at Flemington. 

Mostly Cloudy has had one run back following a winter break in the warmth of Queensland, finishing fourth over 2000m at Caulfield on August 31. 

Busuttin said Mostly Cloudy ran well that day and is set to run well again. 

"He doesn't know how to run a bad race, but he doesn't win that often which is frustrating," Busuttin said. 

"He deserves to win a race, but he's not the easiest horse to ride in a race. 

"He doesn't travel, and he can find himself in some tricky spots, but it's not an overly big field. 

"He'll get luck some day or other, hopefully it's Saturday and then all the pressure will be off."