Last season’s brilliant two year old Rubick showed he is ready to return to the racetrack in the Group 2 $200,000 Anco Seed & Turf Schillaci Stakes (1000m) at Caulfield after a sizzling trackwork session this morning.
Rubick to make Spring Carnival debut in the Schillaci Stakes at Caulfield. Photo by Race Horse Photos Australia.
Rubick will be taking on the older horses in the weight for age Schillaci Stakes at his first run as a three year old and Blake Ryan, son of trainer Gerald Ryan, expects him to be among the prizemoney following a solid hit out at Caulfield this morning.
Blake Ryan was aboard Rubick when he worked over 800m, clocking 52.04 secs for the overall gallop, but running a smart 23.22secs for the final 400m.
“He had a good blow,” Blake Ryan told Racing.com.
“His Grand Final’s in a month’s time, so he’s not fully screwed down for this and he’s going to improve off it.
“But he worked solid and we’re really happy with him. He pulled up good, so he’ll run well.”
Rubick’s pleasing trackwork also comes on the back of a Rosehill barrier trial win over 900m on September 30 before the colt travelled to Melbourne to prepare for his Spring Carnival debut.
The Encosta De Lago colt was one of last season’s top two year olds with two stunning wins before running fourth to Earthquake in the Group 1 $1m Sportingbet Blue Diamond Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield on February 22.
Kerrin McEvoy will be the new rider for Rubick, replacing Brenton Avdulla who was aboard the speedster in all his two year old season starts.
Rubick will be taking on some seasoned sprinters in the Schillaci Stakes on Saturday, including Gregers, Platelet, Sessions, Shamal Wind and Iconic, before he drops back to three year old company of the Group 1 $500,000 Coolmore Stud Stakes (1200m) at Flemington on November 1.
The Gai Waterhouse trained Overreach is also expected to make her long awaited comeback, not having been to the races since finishing third to Guelph in the 2013 Group 1 $500,000 Inglis Sires Produce Stakes (1400m) at Randwick.
Overreach proved to be the best two year old of her year by winning the Group 1 $3.5m Tooheys New Golden Slipper (1200m) at Rosehill at her previous start but Waterhouse decided to miss her entire three year old season to let her mature.
The Exceed And Excel mare looks to be back to her brilliant best with a six lengths win in a 740m Randwick barrier trial on September 19.
