Speedy colt Rubick indicated that he was on track to return to racing in the 2014 Schillaci Stakes at Caulfield on October 11 after he recorded a comfortable win in a barrier trial a Rosehill Gardens this morning.
Rubick is set to return to the races in the 2014 Schillaci Stakes at Caulfield next Saturday. Photo by: Race Horse Photos Australia
Rubick contested the eighth barrier trial of the morning over 900 metres and he was settled behind stablemate A Time For War in the early stages of the trial before finishing over the top of the Group 2 winner in the last 150 metres.
Brenton Avdulla partnered Rubick in his three race starts during his juvenile preparation, but Kerrin McEvoy, who ended his permanent association with Godolphin last week has been booked to ride the three-year-old during the 2014 Spring Racing Carnival and partnered the colt in the barrier trial this morning.
The talented colt was set to start his 2014 Spring Racing Carnival campaign in the Group 3 San Domenico Stakes (1100m) at Rosehill Gardens on August 16, but the son of Redoute’s Choice picked up a minor virus and was sent back to the spelling paddock.
Rubick is set to take on the older horses in the Group 2 Schillaci Stakes (1000m) on Caulfield Guineas Day, with the Listed Blue Sapphire (1200m) at Caulfield on October 15 the back-up option for the colt, before he returns to Group 1 racing for the Coolmore Stud Stakes (1200m) at Flemington on Victoria Derby Day.
A syndicate managed by David Raphael purchased Rubick for $460,000 at the 2013 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale and he immediately stamped himself as a horse to watch when he won a barrier trial at Rosehill Gardens on January 7 by a most impressive seven lengths.
Rubick made his racing debut with a comfortable win in the IPhone App Plate (1000m) at Royal Randwick on January 25 and he had to work slightly harder to record his maiden win at Stakes level in the Group 3 Blue Diamond Prelude (1100m) at Caulfield on February 8.
The Gerald Ryan-trained galloper started the Group 1 Blue Diamond Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield on February 22 as favourite and he hit the front at the 200 metre mark, but he tired in the final stages of the race to finish fourth behind Earthquake, Jabali and Cornrow.
Ryan is chasing his first win in the Coolmore Stud Stakes after finishing third with Tirade in 2004 and My Duke in 1996.
