Rudy will be stepping up to 2000 metres for the first time in his racing career in the 2014 Rough Habit Plate at Doomben on Saturday and trainer Helen Page is confident that the talented gelding will handle the step up in trip.
Rudy will take on a strong field in the 2014 Rough Habit Plate at Doomben on Saturday. Photo by: Daniel Costello
Rudy stamped himself as a horse to watch when he defeated a strong field to win the Hardy Brothers Jewellers Handicap (1110m) at Doomben in November last year and has performed well in three starts during his autumn campaign to date; winning the Alfred And Constance Handicap (1200m) at Doomben on March 29 and the Goulburn Valley Plate (1350m) at the same venue on April 12 before finishing third behind Hopfgarten and Avalanches in the Group 3 Gunsynd Classic (1600m) at Eagle Farm on April 26.
Page told Racing Ahead that she has been thrilled with the form of Rudy throughout his racing career to date and said that the Red Dazzler gelding gives her every indication that he will run out a strong 2000 metres in the Rough Habit Plate this weekend.
“He has been just fantastic all his career and he is a very exciting horse,” Page said.
“He won first-up and in his second start he came from an almost impossible position, but I think that he is a horse that likes plenty of room to settle.
“The Gunsynd Classic was good, but the track was a bit funny that day and was playing to horses up near the lead.
“The tempo of the race wasn’t really on and it didn’t suit us to get back that far and we tried to ride him a little closer.
“He has good form and every challenge I have set him he has come up and done very well.
“I don’t know how he is going to go over further, but I am sure that he will get the 2000.
“Everything looks as though that he well, he is a lovely relaxed horse, you can place him wherever you like in a race and he seems to always be running on.”
There in rain forecast in Brisbane from Thursday night into Saturday and any sting out the track can only help the chances of Rudy who has scored four wins from five starts on a heavy track and has developed a reputation as one of the best wet-trackers in Brisbane.
Rudy is currently available at 2014 Rough Habit Plate odds of $8; with Alistair Clarke Stakes winner Pheidon ($3.40) a narrow favourite from Telepathic ($4) who will be making her Australian racing debut in the Group 3 event.
