Last season’s star two year old Rubick has picked up a virus, putting his Spring Carnival campaign in jeopardy.
Rubick could miss the Spring Carnival because of a virus. Photo by Race Horse Photos Australia.
Rubick proved himself to be one of the top line youngsters with two wins from three starts plus a fourth to Earthquake in the Group 1 $1m Sportingbet Blue Diamond Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield on February 22 in his initial preparation and was well advanced towards resuming in the Group 3 $125,000 San Domenico Stakes (1100m) at Rosehill on August 16.
But his Spring return has been put on hold after the colt was found to have an elevated temperature after galloping on Tuesday morning last week forcing trainer Gerald Ryan to ease back on his work.
“Rubick had a temperature after he galloped on Tuesday morning so we are just going to pull up stumps for now,’’ Ryan told The Daily Telegraph.
“He was going to resume in the San Domenico Stakes but I won’t push him early in the spring carnival.
“I don’t want to crucify the horse so we will give him a break. We still have time to get him ready for the Coolmore Stud Stakes at Flemington in November.’’
Ryan said that Rubick could make a late Spring Carnival appearance if he recovers in time, but he was not going to push the valuable Encosta De Lago three year old.
“There are no symptoms, his blood is fine,’’ Ryan said.
“But you can’t run him, he is too valuable to risk.
Rubick is not the only one in Ryan’s Rosehill stables suffering her the virus with Black Opal Stakes winner Lucky Raquie as well as several of the new season two year olds also showing signs of elevated temperatures.
“It is not just Rubick, either. Lucky Raquie has it, too, so she is out.
“I galloped eight babies (two-year-olds) on Friday morning and six of them ended up with a temperature.’’
But Ryan was relieved that his Group 1 Sires’ Produce winner Peggy Jean is free of any symptoms and is on track to resume in the Group 2 $175,000 Furious Stakes (1200m) at Randwick on September 6.
Rubick had returned from a Winter spell in great order and Ryan was looking forward to a successful Spring Carnival after the colt looked sensational in an exhibition gallop in between races at Rosehill last Saturday fortnight with regular rider Brenton Avdulla in the saddle.
Ryan had resisted the temptation of running the Encosta De Lago colt in the Group 1 $3.5m Tooheys New Golden Slipper (1200m) at Rosehill on April 5 after his fourth in the Blue Diamond Stakes and instead sent him to the paddock with a Spring campaign in mind.
