Champion jockey Hugh Bowman will ride Rudy for the first time in three years in the Brisbane Cup hoping for better luck than the last time they combined.
Bowman rode Rudy in the 2014 Queensland Derby but after being caught deep, Rudy weakened in the straight to finish 17th behind Sonntag.
Rudy, who has gone on to win eight races and $884,000 prize money, runs in Brisbane’s oldest stakes race at Doomben on Saturday.
The gelding confirmed his liking for Doomben at his past two starts, running third in the Group One Doomben Cup and second in the Group Two P J O’Shea Stakes last Saturday.
In both those races Rudy was ridden by Tim Clark but he has commitments in Sydney on Saturday.
Rudy’s owner Tom Clarke was walking out of Doomben last week and spotted Bowman and quickly booked him for the Brisbane Cup ride.
Trainer Helen Page said it would have been nice to have Clark aboard Rudy in the Cup.
“But Hugh is a world class jockey and he probably owes us one,” Page said.
Among Rudy’s opposition is last year’s Brisbane Cup winner, New Zealander Benzini, who is aiming to become the first horse in 52 years to claim back-to-back wins.
Kelly McCulloch will ride Benzini, replacing her sister Rosie Myers who is sidelined by injury.
“If we could win back to back Cups it would certainly be something to talk about around the dinner table,” McCullough said.
