Stakes-winning galloper Rudy is headed to Sydney after an impressive barrier trial win but is no certainty to contest the Group One Doncaster Mile for the second time.
Trainer Helen Page said she was more likely to aim Rudy at the Group Three JRA Plate (2000m), run two weeks after the Doncaster.
Rudy
Rudy has shown a liking for the Randwick 1600m in winning the 2014 Group Two Villiers and running fourth in last year’s Doncaster.
The gelding has picked up third prize money cheques in two of his three other runs at Randwick with his only failure at the track an unplaced run at the track in last year’s Epsom Handicap.
Rudy also had several unplaced runs in Melbourne during the spring carnival but has been back in trainer Helen Page’s stables for several weeks.
“Rudy did it pretty easily in the trial and Tegan (jockey Harrison) didn’t knock him around. I think we will give him another trial before he comes back to the races,” Page said.
“I am looking for something up here for his first start back but ideally I would like a 1350-metre race.
“But his owner Tom Clarke is keen to start him first-up over 1600m so we will have to see what is around here and in Sydney.
“At this stage the JRA Plate is his main mission this autumn. It is over 2000 metres and Tom is keen to try him at a middle distance.”
Page had a big morning at the barrier trials and apart from Rudy, she produced two impressive two-year-old winners in Queen Cora and Red Prince.
“It is a good sign for the coming weeks,” Page said.
