Securing without doubt his most impressive career victory when taking out Saturday’s featured Group 2 Villiers Stakes (1600m) at Royal Randwick, talented four-year-old Rudy has claimed ballot-free entry into the 2015 Group 1 Doncaster Mile (1600m) but will need to find an extra gear over the coming months if to match it with the autumn carnival’s leading milers, according to trainer Helen Page.
Rudy (pictured inside) has claimed ballot-free entry into the 2015 Doncaster Mile after taking out Saturday’s Group 2 Villiers Stakes. Photo: Daniel Costello
Jumping from the gates well, leading Queensland hoop Luke Tarrant settled Rudy in prime position within the field of 15 on Saturday, receiving an ideal run in transit before locking in a late pace battle with Festival Stakes winner I’m Imposing; pulling a head clear over the line.
Conceding the Doncaster Mile figures as the headline mile event over the 2015 Autumn Carnival, Page is confident the Red Dazzler gelding is more than capable of a successful tilt come Day 1 on The Championships on April 4th.
“The Doncaster is the A grade but he is in it now,” Page told AAP.
“It’s definitely something to aim for.
“He wasn’t ready to go to Melbourne in the spring which is why we decided on a summer campaign.
“He also needed to get his prize money up to get into the better races.”
A standout performer for Page over the 2014 Brisbane Winter Racing Carnival, Rudy claiming two minor sprint events with ease first-up and placed third in each of the Group 3 Gunsynd Classic (1600m) and Group 3 Grand Prix Stakes (2200m) most notably.
Ending his campaign a disappointing seventeenth in the Group 1 Queensland Derby (2400m) on June 7th, Page is confident Rudy’s impressive run of form over summer has highlighted a far-more experienced and competitive horse.
“Things just didn’t work out on the day,” Page added of the Queensland Derby.
“It was hard for him from the outside barrier and Hugh Bowman was forced to go forward and lead which didn’t suit.”
Securing a commendable race record of seven wins and a further four minor places over just 18 competitive appearances on course so far, Rudy ran second in each of the QANTAC Pty Ltd Handicap (1200m) and Padua College Handicap (1350m) before taking out the Listed Recognition Stakes (1630m) at Doomben in his only other start prior to his Villiers Stakes triumph.
