Three horse races are never easy to win as Trent Busuttin and Natalie Young found out with Acierto at Mornington. 

After scratchings reduced the Vic By The Jug Handicap (1500m) from six horses to three on Wednesday, it was considered a two-horse race between the $1.60 favourite Unowho and Acierto ($2.90) with Delure ($7) the outsider of the trip. 

Delure, ridden by Craig Newitt, was able to set the speed and looked to be travelling well coming to the turn, much to Busuttin's annoyance. 

But once the field balanced in the straight, Acierto swept up to assert his authority and score by 2-½ lengths from Unowho with Delure a further three-quarters-of-a-length away third. 

"I was watching it and Froggy (Newitt) was the only one travelling in a three-horse field," Busuttin said. 

"I went from worried before the turn to once he straightened it ended up looking pretty safe. 

"They're always hard to win three horse races, but the stakes money is so good." 

Acierto ran second over 1400m on debut at Bendigo and appreciated the jump in trip on Wednesday and Busuttin is looking to extend the two-year-old out further in trip in coming weeks. 

The Listed Taj Rossi Series Final (1600m) at Flemington on July 3 and then the Byerley Handicap (1800m), also at Flemington two weeks later, are potential targets. 

"He's a very laid-back customer and the Taj Rossi and the Byerley are on the agenda," Busuttin said. 

"He might be a Not A Single Double but he's a great stallion that can get a horse over any trip." 

Blake Shinn, who partnered the winner, said small fields are always tactical affairs. 

"I knew Ollie (Damien Oliver) had his eye on me the whole race, but we were able to relax early and do no work and he was always going to be strong going up that hill," Shinn said. 

"It was a good effort, and he has trained on nice,"