Trainer David Payne has revealed that the 2015 Sydney Cup will be the major autumn target for imported stayer Terrubi.
Terrubi is set to join fellow Australian Bloodstock-owned stayer Protectionist at Group 1 level during the 2015 Sydney Autumn Racing Carnival. Photo by: Sarah Ebbett
Terrubi was purchased by Australian Bloodstock after he defeated Brown Panther to win the Group 2 Prix Maurice De Nieuil (2800m) and was set for a Group 1 Melbourne Cup (3200m) campaign, but he failed to fire in the Group 1 Grosser Preis Von Baden (2413m) in Germany and Payne was not happy with his condition when he arrived in Australia.
The decision was made to skip the Caulfield and Melbourne Cups with Terrubi and send him to the spelling paddock and Payne said that decision had paid dividends and told Sky Racing HQ that the Dalakhani entire had put on almost 50 kilograms in his time away from racing.
“He was rated quiet highly, but unfortunately when I saw him in quarantine he didn’t look very well and we pulled the plug,” Payne said.
“We will keep him for our Carnival here.
“He has done very well and I am very happy.
“He has put on the weight that I wanted him too.
“He is never going to be a big horse, he is a nice refined type of horse and a lovely moving horse.
“He has only been in a couple of weeks, but I am very pleased with him.
“He had never spelled, but he came back in in very good order.”
Terrubi never raced over a distance shorter than 2000 metres in his ten race starts in Europe and Payne believes that the Group 1 Sydney Cup (3200m) at Royal Randwick on April 11 will be the ideal race for the five-year-old and be feels that the Maurice De Nieuil winner has the talent to mix it with the best horses in Australia including dominant Melbourne Cup winner Protectionist.
“He has raced at the top level and he should be able to compete here with horses like Protectionist,” Payne said.
“We are just hoping that he has gone forward.
“We will hopefully have a crack at the Sydney Cup.
“He is a real staying type, a nice big rangy horse and a fluent mover.
“Looking at him he looks a very clean-winded horse and I think that he won’t take long to get his wind perfect.”
Terrubi has recorded three wins from his ten race starts and has accumulated over €340,700 in prizemoney.
