Sydney speedster Rubick has drawn the rails for his Spring Carnival debut in the Group 2 $200,000 Anco Instant Turf Schillaci Stakes (1000m) at Caulfield on Saturday.
Rubick draws the rails in the Schillaci Stakes at Caulfield. Photo by Race Horse Photos Australia.
Rubick is having his first run back since finishing fourth to Earthquake in the Group 1 $1m Sportingbet Blue Diamond Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield on February 22 and new rider Kerrin McEvoy is certain to take full advantage of barrier one in the small seven horse field.
McEvoy takes over from Brenton Avdulla who was aboard Rubick for all his three race starts in the Autumn, recording two wins before missing a place in the Blue Diamond Stakes.
The Gerald Ryan trained colt debuted for an easy win over 1000m at Randwick on January 25 then repeated that effort with a one length win in the Group 3 $150,000 Sportingbet Blue Diamond Prelude (C&G) (1100m) at Caulfield on February 8.
McEvoy has had a feel of the Encosta De Lago colt in winning a 900m Rosehill barrier but Gerald Ryan’s son Blake has put the final touches on Rubick while he is in Melbourne.
Blake Ryan was aboard Rubick when he worked over 800m at Caulfield on Tuesday morning when he clocked 52.04 secs for the overall gallop, running a smart 23.22secs for the final 400m and the stable is confident of a bold first up showing.
“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.”
The Schillaci Stakes has brought together a small but smart bunch of sprinters including 2013 Golden Slipper winner Overreach (barrier 6), dual Group 1 winner Platelet (3) and Group 1 placed Sessions (7), Not Listenin’tome (5) and Gregers (4) with Iconic (2) completing the field.
As a three year old Rubick only has to carry 53kgs under the weight for age scale, 3kgs less than his nearest rivals, Overreach, Platelet and Gregers, and 5kgs less than Sessions, Iconic and Not Listenin’tome.
The Gai Waterhouse trained Overreach is having her first start for over eighteen months, having not been to the races since running third to Guelph in the 2013 Group 1 $500,000 Inglis Sires Produce Stakes (1400m) at Randwick.
At her previous start the Exceed And Excel filly won the Group 1 $3.5m Tooheys New Golden Slipper (1200m) at Rosehill.
Overreach will line up in the Schillaci Stakes with a 740m Randwick barrier trial win under her belt while Not Listenin’tome has been fitted for his return to racing with a 900m Rosehill trial win.
Not Listenin’tome showed that he has plenty of ability with a second to Zoustar in Group 1 $500,000 Coolmore Stud Stakes (1200m) at Flemington during last year’s Spring Carnival and was also runner up to Appearance in the Group 1 $500,000 Guinness Canterbury Stakes (1300m) at Randwick during the Sydney Autumn Carnival.
The Darren Weir trained Platelet will be having her first run since finishing second to Smokin’ Joey in the Group 1 $500,000 The Tapestry Wines Goodwood (1200m) at Morphettville on May 10 while Sessions, Iconic and Gregers have the benefit of recent racing.
Sessions was beaten just over three lengths when a first up fourth to Terravista in the Group 2 $200,000 Bowermans Office Furniture Shorts (1100m) at Randwick on September 20 while Iconic won the Listed $120,000 1Print Carlyon Stakes (1000m) at Moonee Valley on August 23 before third running in the Listed $80,000 Sportingbet W H Wylie Handicap (1100m) at Morphettville September 20.
The David Hayes and Tom Dabernig trained Gregers has been freshened up since a sixth to Commanding Jewel in the Group 2 $200,000 Let’s Elope Stakes (1400m) at Flemington on September 13.
