Exciting colt Rubick will undoubtedly face his biggest test to date in this weekend’s 2014 Group 1 Blue Diamond Stakes (1200m); however trainer Gerald Ryan is confident the classy colt has got what it takes to justify favouritism and overcome a field that includes talented filly Earthquake.
Rubick is in prime position to claim the 2014 Blue Diamond Stakes. Photo: Race Horse Photos Australia
Ryan told New Limited earlier this week he could not be more confident in Rubick’s abilities, particularly after a strong piece of work during a gallop at Caulfield on Monday.
“He ran 100m in 50.10 seconds; the last 400m in 22.7 seconds and the last 200m in 10.68 seconds on the steeple grass. It was super work” Ryan said.
“It was not so much the time, but the ease he did it. He looks terrific and he is primed for Saturday and will now just poke around until the race. He’s ready, full stop.”
After revealing earlier in the week a draw of barrier 7 or 8 would be ideal for Rubick in the Blue Diamond Stakes, Ryan was pleased when the Encosta De Lago colt was allocated barrier 10, five inside Earthquake who drew the unfortunate barrier 15.
Having run precisely the same time as Rubick in the Blue Diamond Prelude event for fillies (1100m), Earthquake shot to outright favouritism for the 2014 Blue Diamond Stakes however has drifted substantially since drawing a wide barrier.
“My colt and his filly do look the testing material” Ryan said of the Peter Snowden-trained Exceed And Excel filly.
“They have rune the times and won their races impressively. It does look a race in two in that respect, but two-year-olds can improve sharply and there are a couple in that category.”
Having easily claimed the TAB IPhone App Plate (1000m) by nearly three lengths from Twirl and Valentia on debut in January, Rubick consolidated his position as the country’s leading two-year-old colt when comfortably beating classy opponents Jabali, Chivalry and Nostradamus in the Group 3 Blue Diamond Prelude event for colts and geldings (1100m) on February 8th.
All signs currently point towards a third successive Rubick triumph, however the exciting colt will need to find a clear path early against such a talented field.
The 2014 Blue Diamond Stakes will be contested with the Caulfield rail out 3 metres and will jump at 5:10p.m Eastern time on Saturday.
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