Highly spruiked comeback colt Rubick is currently sharing top spot in the Schillaci Stakes 2014 betting markets for his first-up run on Caulfield Guineas Day in Melbourne on Saturday.
Rubick is co-favourite for his first-up run in Saturday's 2014 Schillaci Stakes. Photo: Race Horse Photos Australia.
Gerald Ryan’s former top two-year-old races first-up in the $200,000 Group 2 Anco Instant Turf Schillaci Stakes (1000m) at Caulfield Racecourse in his maiden run since a fourth behind Earthquake in the Group 1 Blue Diamond Stakes (1200m) at the track back in February.
Before that the son of Encosta De Lago won his opening two career starts, including the Blue Diamond Prelude also run at Caulfield, and it is that form connections are hoping he can repeat when returning from a length break this weekend.
He’s got the rails run with Kerrin McEvoy booked for the ride aboard the three-year-old in the weight-for-age clash that runs as race four at 2:45pm.
Currently Rubick, who carries 53kg under the WFA conditions and meets his rivals a minimum 3.5kg better off, pays $3.40 in the Schillaci Stakes betting markets at Ladbrokes.com.au.
That’s the equal shortest price in the small seven horse field and markets as another returning sprinter, Not Listenin’tome.
Jumping from barrier five with Damien Oliver in the saddle, Gary Moore’s Dylan Thomas four-year-old races for the first time since his second behind Appearance in the Group 1 Canterbury Stakes (1300m) at Royal Randwick back in mid-March.
Before that the 2013 Coolmore Stud Stakes runner-up won first-up at Caulfield on Blue Diamond Day in the Group 3 Zeditve Stakes (1200m) giving him a perfect two-from-two record when resuming he’ll be out to add to this weekend.
Also first-up and at single figures to win is then the $4.20 third pick Overreach, Gai Waterhouse’s 2013 Golden Slipper winning filly to make her four-year-old debut.
The daughter of Exceed And Excel hasn’t raced since she backed up from three straight Rosehill wins, including the world’s richest two-year-olds’ race, in the autumn last year to finish third in the Group 1 ATC Sires’ Produce Stakes (1400m).
Originally Overreach was to return this autumn but she spent longer in the paddock, her fitness proven with a winning Randwick trial in late September ahead of just her second Melbourne run on Saturday.
In a wide open market there are then two other hopefuls under $10 with dual Adelaide Group 1 winner Platelet ($8) for Wangoom trainer Darren Weir and early market mover Gregers ($11 into $9) drawn in barriers three and four respectively.
Six-year-old Strategic mare Platelet returns to racing here following three straight seconds at Morphettville in the autumn, including behind Driefontein and Smokin’ Joey respectively when finishing one worse than her winning efforts last year in the Group 1 Robert Sangster Stakes and The Goodwood.
Gregers meanwhile has had early money come in for her, the four-year-old daughter of Commands having won the Group 3 Cockram Stakes (1200m) two back at the track before a sixth to Commanding Jewel in the Group 2 Let’s Elope Stakes (1400m) at Flemington in mid-September.
She’s better suited to the Caulfield course however and has a nice record here with three wins and a third from six starts.
Rounding out the Schillaci Stakes field and markets are then the John O’Shea-trained Sessions ($12) with the outside gate to overcome and previous winner at the track and distance Iconic ($16) in gate two who is still far from a real roughie despite being at the longest odds to win.
See below for the full Schillaci Stakes 2014 odds, fixed win prices open online now at Ladbrokes.com.au where for only $3 this Caulfield Guineas Day you get the chance to win an historic $3 million!
