Wet weather forces Rubick out of BTC Cup

Sydney’s prolonged wet weather has forced trainer Gerald Ryan to cancel plans for Rubick to run in the Group 1 $500,000 UBET BTC Cup (1200m) at Doomben on Saturday.

Sydney's wet weather has forced Rubick to miss the Queensland Winter Carnival. Photo by Race Horse Photos Australia.

Sydney’s wet weather has forced Rubick to miss the Queensland Winter Carnival. Photo by Race Horse Photos Australia.

Ryan has been unable to give Rubick enough work to have him fit enough to compete at Group 1 level because of the water logged training tracks and the brilliant three year old will now miss the entire Queensland Winter Carnival and head to the spelling paddock.

“Rubick won’t be going to Brisbane,” Ryan told AAP.

“The wet has just made it too hard to get the work into him and there’s also the prospect of going up there and striking a wet track.

“He’ll go to the paddock.”

Ryan was hoping to secure a Group 1 win for Rubick over the Winter Carnival to enhance his value before he heads off to start his stallion duties in the future.

Rubick has won three of his eight race starts but is yet to be placed at Group 1 level from three attempts.

The Encosta De Lago colt was undefeated at his first two starts as a two year old and headed into the 2014 Group 1 $1m Sportingbet Blue Diamond Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield as one of the main fancies before finishing fourth to Earthquake.

Rubick then resumed in the Spring to win first up in the Group 2 $200,000 Anco Instant Turf Schillaci Stakes (1000m) at Caulfield before running twelfth to Brazen Beau in the Group 1 $500,000 Coolmore Stud Stakes (1200m) at Flemington on November 1.

Ryan then kicked off Rubick’s Autumn Carnival campaign with a third to Miracles Of Life in the Group 2 $400,000 Hyland Race Colours Challenge Stakes (1000m) at Randwick on March 7 before he finished seventh to Sweet Idea in the Group 1 $400,000 Canadian Club Galaxy (1100m) at Rosehill on March 21 followed by a last start fifth on heavy 8 to Delectation in the Group 2 $500,000 Arrowfield 3yo Sprint (1200m) at Randwick on April 11.

Ryan’s long term aim is for Rubick to stand at stud when he calls a halt to his racing days and he has no doubt that he will make the grade.

“He has one of the best pedigrees you could have and I think he will make a grouse stallion,” Ryan said.

“That was the whole idea of purchasing him in the first place.

“He is a lovely colt and a very fast horse.

“All the good stallions are fast horses whether they produce stayers or not.”

 

About The Author

Mark Mazzaglia

Mark is a passionate journalist with a life-time involvement in the racing industry. He spent many years as an analyst and form expert at the Courier Mail and also has hands-on experience working with some of Queensland’s top trainers.