The winning combination of trainer Gerald Ryan and jockey Brenton Avdulla will line up for a second Group 1 win in eight days with unbeaten two year old Rubick in the $1m Sportingbet Blue Diamond Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield on Saturday.
Rubick is spot on for the G1 Blue Diamond Stakes. Photo by Race Horse Photos Australia.
Sydney based Ryan and Avdulla shared Group 1 glory last Saturday when speedy mare Snitzerland scored a decisive win in the $500,000 Black Caviar Lightning (1000m) down the Flemington straight.
And the Blue Diamond Stakes trophy is within their grasp after Rubick did it at both ends in winning the Group 3 $150,000 Sportingbet Blue Diamond Prelude (C&G) (1100m) at Caulfield on February 8.
Avdulla stayed in Melbourne after the Black Caviar Lightning win and was on hand to give Rubick a solid work out at Caulfield this morning with Ryan on hand to watch the gallop.
Ryan was than happy with the work and declared the Encosta De Lago colt spot on for Saturday’s assignment.
“The horse looks good, he looks terrific in his coat, he has come on and he is bright and well,” Ryan told TVN.
“Brenton did not move on him. He ran 50.1, 22.70 and 10.68 seconds and he was cruising.
“He pulled up really well. By the time he got back to me in the middle (of the track) he would not have blown a feather over.
“He worked really well.”
Ryan is hoping for a midfield draw for Rubick at tomorrow’s barrier draw and said that he was not a one-dimensional horse and if needed Avdulla would be able to ride him from off the pace.
“Rubick isn’t a one-dimensional sprinter who has to lead. He can race from back in the field and that’s probably how we’ll ride him on Saturday,” Ryan told The Age.
Rubick is fighting for Blue Diamond Stakes favouritism with the Peter Snowden trained Earthquake who ran the exact time in winning the fillies division of the Group 3 $150,000 Sportingbet Blue Diamond Prelude.
Last week Earthquake was promoted to the top spot in betting but with word of Rubick’s slashing gallop at Caulfield this morning, the Ryan trained colt has been reinstated by Ladbrokes.com.au as the $2.80 favourite just shading Snowden’s filly at $2.90.
Chivalry from the Mark Kavanagh stable is next in the market order at $7.50 with Gai Waterhouse’s last start Caulfield winner Nayeli at $10.
