As Gerald Ryan waited for an interview, an advertisement for the Blue Diamond rolled in the background.
It extolled the credentials of Victoria’s richest and most prestigious race with a history stretching back 40 plus years. Ryan noted the Diamond Hall Of Fame, so to speak: Manikato, Rancher, Zeditave, Courtza, Redoute’s Choice, Bel Esprit, Alinghi, Star Witness, Sepoy, Samaready.
He could recall them all from his days firstly as jockey and then later as a Victorian-based trainer.
Ryan can’t remember riding in a Diamond, but his memory is more vivid as a trainer. It helped that he’s trained two winners – Hurricane Sky (1994) and Paint two years later. In fact, Ryan has only had two other starters so his strike rate is as imposing as any when it comes to Blue Diamonds.
Asked his best Diamond winner, Ryan reeled off Manikato as fast as he hopes Rubick pings the gates in Saturday’s $1 million Group 1.
Ryan is not putting Rubick, a $450,000 yearling that has subsequently seen Coolmore purchase a slice for an undisclosed seven figure sum, into the same elite category as Manikato. But, Ryan is already on record as rating Rubick, a son of Encosta De Lago, as the best horse he’s trained since Snitzel, a Group 1 winner for him.
Big call. Bigger call when it is considered that Ryan has trained a host of Group 1 winners, the latest as recent as last Saturday’s Black Caviar Lightning Stakes.
And, gargantuan when it is considered that Ryan trumpeted Rubick about a month before he made his racetrack debut. So far, Rubick has done all that’s been asked of him. On debut he treated his rivals with disdain with a ridiculously easy win.
Oddly, Rubick lost favor – well at least with the corporate bookies and the TAB – when he made it two from two in a Blue Diamond Prelude. It makes no sense. Rubick’s latest victory only underscored what Ryan had been trumpeting – the colt was something special.
Yes, he got tired, but he was entitled to especially when the sectional splits of the race are fully analysed. It should be hailed as a stunning win, one worthy of a horse to start favorite for the $1 million Group 1.
Sure, Rubick and Earthquake ran the same time in the Prelude and the Peter Snowden filly was oh so impressive as she surged clear of her rivals to post an emphatic win. But, look at the manner of Rubick’s victory. He missed the kick by a touch and that forced Brenton Avdulla to drive through to hold his inside draw advantage.
Avdulla was able to retain the rails, but not before expanding plenty of fuel. Rubick was embroiled in a four-way charge for the lead that was something out of the charge of the cavalry. Significantly, Rubick ran his first 500 metres in the equivalent of seven lengths faster than Earthquake. That’s sizzling.
It’s worth noting that those horses – Mohave, Berlutti and Geromayo that ran the gauntlet with Rubick in that frenetic opening passage – finished 10th, 15th and 16th respectively. Rubick was entitled to get weary. If he had been swallowed up over the concluding stages it would have been understandable, but it explains why his win was not as impressive to the naked eye as Earthquake.
With all due respect to Eloping and Lumosity, Earthquake’s opposition was not as formidable as what Rubick faced. Certainly, Jabali, Chivalry and Nostradamus, which finished second through fourth behind Rubick, were eye-catching runs in the Prelude, but remember they did not do the work of Ryan’s colt.
Rubick was there to be beaten, but he refused to wilt. And, given it was only his second start he will derive much benefit from that run.
Significantly, the reverse way held no fears for him while Earthquake ‘wobbled’ around the home turn. She was good enough to overcome that flaw, but the Diamond is unforgiving on those juveniles who make the slightest error.
Certainly, Nayeli, ultra impressive winner of the Chairman’s Stakes, comes into calculations, but is she as good as Earthquake? And, is Earthquake as good as Rubick?
When the Blue Diamond advert is up dated for future renewals, Gerald Ryan will have added reason to listen – it will contain the name of his Diamond winner – Rubick.
– Racing Network
