Punters and bookmakers will get their first look at Blue Diamond Stakes hopeful Rubick under race conditions when he steps out in the two year old Plate over 1000m at Randwick on Saturday.
Earthquake,above, currently heads the market order for the Blue Diamond Stakes. Photo by Steve Hart.
The Gerald Ryan trained Rubick has been installed the $7 second favourite for the Group 1 $1m Sportingbet Blue Diamond Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield on February 22 after winning a 900m Rosehill barrier trial by seven and a quarter lengths on January 7.
Like all trial watchers, Ryan was very impressed with the Encosta De Lago colt’s trial performance but would also like to see him reproduce that on race day to certify his high opinion of the youngster.
“You like to see them do it on raceday and see them do it once or twice before you really go over the top with, but on what he’s shown so far he’s a nice horse,” Ryan told The Daily Telegraph.
“He’s got a great attitude, a great demeanour, he eats his feed, he works good, he’s got a great nature and he shows heaps at home.”
Ryan has held a high opinon of the colt from early days and rates him up with one his stable stars, Group 1 winning Snitzel.
“I said to the people who are in the horse that I think he is the best I’ve trained since Snitzel,” Ryan said.
“I thought it would be a while until I got another one that went as good as Snitzerland but this colt is shows more than her at this stage.
“Everything he does is just so professional.
“From the first time I saw him on the farm at Vinery Stud I loved him, I’ve got some nice two-year-old’s but none are like him. He is a very well bred horse and can certainly gallop.”
Nominations for the two year old Plate at Randwick have been extended until 11am on Tuesday January 21 after only eleven entries were received.
Among the first wave of nominations is the Peter Moody trained pair of Pink Perfection and Station while Chris Waller also has two first starters, Brazen Beau and Country Warrior and Gai Waterhouse has also entered two debutants, Twirl and Valentia.
Pink Perfection is the most experienced two year old of the field with a last start Warwick Farm win and two placings from three race starts while well-bred stable mate Station will benefit from his only race start when fifth to the Waterhouse trained Fighting Sun over 1100m at Rosehill.
The Peter Snowden trained Earthquake heads the Blue Diamond Stakes market order at $3.80 with Rubick at $7 and Fighting Sun at $8 while Melbourne colt Chivalry is next in the betting at $8.50 just ahead of Flemington winner Nostradamus at $9 with Pink Perfection marked as a $26 chance.
