Rudy To Begin Doncaster Mile Campaign In Liverpool City Cup

Trainer Helen Page has confirmed that Rudy will begin his 2015 Doncaster Mile campaign in the Group 3 Liverpool City Cup (1300m) at Warwick Farm on Saturday.

Rudy was set for the 2015 Doncaster Mile after he won the Villiers Stakes at the end of last year. Photo by: Steve Hart

Rudy was set for the 2015 Doncaster Mile after he won the Villiers Stakes at the end of last year. Photo by: Steve Hart

Rudy made his racing debut outside of Queensland in the Group 2 Villiers Stakes (1600m) at Royal Randwick on December 16 and he worked home strongly to record a narrow win in the Group 2 event and earn himself as guaranteed place in the 2015 Doncaster Mile field.

Page admits that the Rudy will face far stiffer competition in the Doncaster Mile, but she believes that the Red Dazzler gelding is good enough and has earnt the right to be set for the Group 1 event during the 2015 Sydney Autumn Racing Carnival.

“Rudy has done well,” Page said.

“He had a let-up, but he is back in work and had a little jump out the other day.

“He is on his way towards the Doncaster and if he is good enough he is there.

“The Doncaster is a different kettle of fish to the Villiers, but he has a run in it by winning the Villiers and we now need to get him fit and ready for it.”

Rudy was set for the Group 1 Queensland Derby (2400m) during the 2014 Brisbane Winter Racing Carnival, but was retrained as a miler during his summer campaign, where he recorded two wins and two second placings from four starts.

Page believes that Rudy is at his best over a mile, but the Red Dazzler gelding has previously won over 1110 metres and Page is confident that she has the four-year-old sharp enough to run well in the Group 3 event this weekend.

“He is the sort of horse that takes a couple of months to come right and his best distances are probably a mile or more, but he has won over these shorter distances but not at this level,” Page said.

“I have him trained ready for a the short sprint, but I feel that the class of the others may be a little bit brilliant for him over the shorter course.

“He will run well.”

The Liverpool City Cup field will be released tomorrow and Queensland Oaks winner Tinto, imported galloper Pornichet, Godolphin import It’s Somewhat, Triscay Stakes winner Thump, Chris Waller-trained Bull Point, promising mare Gypsy Diamond and speedy filly Press Report are all a chance of contesting the $150,000 race.

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Thomas Hackett

Thomas is a passionate and opinionated racing journalist and punter who has been obsessed with horse racing since he backed Saintly to win the 1996 Melbourne Cup. An international racing enthusiast, he has his finger on the pulse of racing news not just from Australia but all around the world.