High profile jockey Kerrin McEvoy has snapped up the ride on promising three year old Rubick for his upcoming Spring Carnival engagements.
Kerrin McEvoy will be the new rider for Rubick when he resumes in the Spring. Photo by Race Horse Photos Australia.
McEvoy only today announced that he would be ending his twelve year association with the mighty Godolphin operation in Australia and was quick to pick up the plum Spring ride on the Gerald Ryan trained Rubick.
McEvoy will be replacing Brenton Avdulla who partnered Rubick in all his three runs as a two year old at the beginning of the year which produced a first up win over 1000m at Randwick in January followed by a win in the Group 3 $150,000 Sportingbet Blue Diamond Prelude (C&G) (1100m) at Caulfield on February 8.
Rubick was then sent out the $3.70 second favourite when fourth to Earthquake in the Group 1 $1m Sportingbet Blue Diamond Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield on February 22.
While McEvoy was pleased to pick a such a high quality Spring ride as he ventured out to be a freelance jockey for the first in twelve years, Avdulla was clearly disappointed to have lost the ride on a three year old that he thought would have thrust him into the limelight.
“Very disappointed to lose the ride on Rubick, a horse who I believe is a G1 galloper. All the best to his connections,” Avdulla tweeted this morning.
Ryan was forced to delay the start of Rubick’s Spring Carnival campaign after the colt developed a temperature at the beginning of August as he was preparing to run in the Group 3 $125,000 Smithfield RSL Club San Domenico Stakes (1100m) at Rosehill on August 16.
The prominent Rosehill trainer will trial Rubick next week in readiness for a Spring return in the Group 2 $200,000 Anco Seed & Turf Schillaci Stakes (1000m) at Caulfield on October 11.
The Encosta De Lago colt will then be aimed towards the Group 1 $500,000 Coolmore Stud Stakes (1200m) at Flemington.
McEvoy is looking forward to his next challenge after severing ties with Godolphin and is certain to get plenty of support from the leading stables in Sydney and Melbourne.
“I will be based in Sydney. Sydney is my home now,” McEvoy told RSN.
But McEvoy will honour his commitments for Godolphin in the next couple of weeks including the booking for Sweynesse in the Group 3 $200,000 Gloaming Stakes (1800m) at Rosehill on Saturday.
Sweynesse showed that he was well above average with an impressive win in the Group 3 $125,000 Coca-Cola Spring Stakes (1600m) at Newcastle on September 17 with McEvoy aboard.
“Looking forward to riding Sweynesse on the weekend. It was a lovely win in the Spring Stakes, so he’s a nice horses heading forward,” McEvoy said.
‘I’ve got some rides for Godolphin this week and next week and I’m sure the picture will become a little bit clearer heading on to next week, but there is nothing stopping Godolphin booking me for rides in the future and I would be happy to take rides.”
“It’s onwards and upwards and that will unfold in the next week or ten days.”
