Melbourne The Prime Focus For Rubick

Gerald Ryan is already planning a Spring Racing Carnival campaign for boom two-year-old Rubick aimed towards the Group 1 Coolmore Stud Stakes (1200m) at Flemington in November.

The son of Encosta De Lago created a big impression winning the Blue Diamond Prelude (1100m) at Caulfield in February, before finishing fourth in the $1 million Blue Diamond Stakes (1200m).

Set to resume in the San Domenico Stakes (1100m) in Sydney on August 16, Rubick will then head to the Group 2 Danehill Stakes (1200m) at Flemington on September 13, the Group 2 Schillaci Stakes (1000m) at Caulfield on October 11, before the Coolmore Stud Stakes on November 4.

Should he prove less effective up the Flemington straight, Ryan said he would definitely consider aiming the three-year-old towards the $1 million Group 1 Manikato Stakes (1200m) against the older horses in October.

“The Danehill is crucial because it gives him that experience up the straight before his main target,” Ryan said.

“If he doesn’t handle going up the straight that early in the season you can always divert your plans and go elsewhere.

“We could always then head towards the Manikato.”

Back in the stable after a ten-week spell, Ryan said he was very happy with the physical progression the colt made during his time off.

“He’s grown, he’s lengthened, he’s taller and he looks really good,” he said.

“His mannerisms are great and his demeanour around the place is terrific.”

Boasting ten individual two-year-old winners this season already, Ryan said Rubick wouldn’t be the only three-year-old aimed towards the Melbourne Spring Racing Carnival.

Ryan said Group 1 Sires Produce Stakes (1400m) winner Peggy Jean could potentially join Black Opal Stakes (1200m) victor Lucky Raquie on a path towards the Group 1 Schweppes Thousand Guineas (1600m) at Caulfield in October.

“Lucky Raquie would be geared towards Melbourne because you’d be more chance of striking a dry track down there than up here in the Spring,” he said.

“Bachman will be aimed towards the Caulfield Guineas, Peggy Jean could also be aimed towards the Thousand Guineas.

“I don’t think you can aim them at both Sydney and Melbourne, you’ve got to gear them specifically towards one of the two carnivals.”

– Racing Victoria

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