The 2016 Rubiton Stakes field has been released and talented mare Politeness is set to return to the races in the Group 2 event at Caulfield on Saturday.
Politeness will return to the races in the 2016 Rubiton Stakes at Caulfield this weekend. Photo by: Steve Hart
Politeness has had a great deal of potential since she made her racing debut in February of 2013, but she was finally able to consistently deliver on the track during the 2015 Spring Racing Carnival.
She returned to the races in the Group 3 How Now Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield on September 19 and she swooped home from the tail of the field to record an impressive win before she proved that was no fluke in the Group 3 Northwood Plume Stakes (1200m) at the same venue on October 10.
Trainer Robert Smerdon elected to step Politeness up to a mile for the Group 1 Myer Classic (1200m) at Flemington on October 31 without another run, but the decision paid dividends when she worked home against the pattern of the day to claim a maiden win at the highest level of racing and she was almost able to score a second Group 1 victory a week later in the Emirates Stakes (1600m).
Politeness will carry 56.5 kilograms in the Rubiton Stakes under the set weights plus penalties conditions of the Rubiton Stakes and she will be ridden by regular jockey Dwayne Dunn.
Éclair Choice was also able to string a couple of wins together during his spring preparation and he will carry the top weight of 58.5 kilograms in the Rubiton Stakes.
The son of California Dane dead heated with Lumosty to take out the Group 2 Caulfield Sprint (1000m) on October 17 and he backed that victory up a week later with another victory in the Group 2 Tab.Com.Au Stakes (1200m) at Flemington on October 31.
One of the most interesting horses in the 2016 Rubiton Stakes field is Heatherly, who is set to take on the older horses this weekend before potentially running in the Group 1 Oakleigh Plate (1100m) at Caulfield in a fortnight.
Heatherly was beaten as a short-priced favourite in the first two starts of her summer campaign, but she scored a comfortable win in the Slickpix Handicap (1000m) at Moonee Valley on January 2 and she made it two wins on the trot in the Andrew Guy Plate (1100m) at Flemington on January 30.
The other filly in the Rubiton Stakes is Lake Geneva, who is set to return to the races for the first time since she finished third behind Secret Agenda in the Group 3 Gucci Stakes (1100m) at Flemington on November 5.
Kuro, Husson Eagle, It Is Written, Tried And Tired, The Monstar and Just A Bullet have also been included in the Rubiton Stakes field.
