Rudy has shown he is ready for the spring and a return to Sydney for the major races with a strong win in a Gold Coast barrier trial.
The Helen Page-trained gelding led most of the way to beat VRC Oaks hopeful Sagaronne by two lengths in a 1000m trial on Tuesday.
Another likely southern campaigner, Teronado, was given an easy time and finished a further four lengths third.
Rudy clocked 59.36 seconds which was slightly slower than the other open 1000m trial won by noted short-course specialist Knight Templar in 59.12.
Page is planning an assault on the Group One Epsom Handicap with Rudy in October.
Rudy won the Group Two Villiers (1600m) at Randwick last December and finished fourth in the Group One Doncaster Mile.
“He pulled up very well. There was no pace in the trial and he got left in front so it was a really good effort,” Page said.
“Rudy will run at Doomben over 1350 metres on August 22. I usually start him first-up in something shorter and he will get plenty of weight.”
“But it fits in well with our program.”
Page said Rudy would then have two starts in Sydney in the traditional Epsom lead-ups, the Tramway and the Theo Marks, before the big Group One mile.
Trial jockey Matt McGuren reported that Rudy had worked solidly to the line and felt strong.
McGuren is in line for the Doomben ride but Page may decide to use a claiming apprentice depending on what weight Rudy gets.
Page is then likely to seek out a local jockey for Rudy’s Sydney campaign.
