Group 1 The Galaxy (1100m) is one of five Group One races running at Rosehill this Saturday, attracting a capacity field of 14 sprinters plus three emergencies.
Rubick is looking to win his first Group 1 race in The Galaxy. Photo by Race Horse Photos Australia.
The Gerald Ryan-trained Rubick is one of those 14 confirmed runners, set to atone for his unlucky third placing in the Group 2 Challenge Stakes (1000m) on March 7.
Rubick resumed in the race following a three month spell as the $3.30 favourite. He was evenly away to settle three and a half lengths fourth back on the fence behind a breakneck early tempo. The colt was kept in the pocket on the fence into the straight before finding himself held up for a run and suffled back to fifth by 250 metres. He was checked abruptly off heels with 200 metres to go but got home well thereafter to finish two and a half lengths off winner Miracles Of Life but just a short half-head behind runner-up Va Pensiero.
It was an unlucky run for Rubick, who will face both Miracles Of Life and Va Pensiero in the 2015 Galaxy. The three-year-old colt enjoyed a public workout at the course proper on Tuesday, impressing many regular track watchers.
“He worked very well as I expected and I was very pleased,” Ryan told Sky Racing.
“He got caught on the fence last time and just couldn’t get out.
“He’s drawn barrier four again on Saturday so I hope it doesn’t happen again.
“But that’s Kerrin McEvoy’s problem. There’s nothing I can do.”
Rubick is the market mover of The Galaxy betting at Ladbrokes.com.au, seeing his price shorten from $6.50 to $5.50, making him second favourite behind Deep Field ($4.40).
The colt has drawn well in barrier four with Kerrin McEvoy to ride, an advantage he has over his rivals. Race favourite Deep Field will have to overcome a wide start from the outside gate with Challenge Stakes rivals Miracles Of Life ($6.50) and Va Pensiero ($21) will jump from barriers 14 and 11, respectively.
Coolmore owns a share in Rubick but a stud deal has not been done yet. Ryan understands they are waiting for a Group One win, which will increase his stud value. The trainer is hoping he can deliver it in The Galaxy.
“It’s important for any colt that you buy as a potential stud prospect to win a Group One,” Ryan said.
“It’s very important to me that he wins one and hopefully that’s on Saturday but there is no pressure from Coolmore.”
“They own a share but they are happy to race him. There is no stud deal in place.”
Rubick won the Group 3 Blue Diamond Prelude (1100m) in February last year but finished outside the placings in fourth in the Group 1 Blue Diamond Stakes (1200m) two weeks later.
The colt then won the Group 2 Schillaci Stakes (1000m) on October 11 but gave nothing over the concluding stages in the Group 1 Coolmore Stud Stakes (1200m) three weeks later, finishing 11 lengths behind winner Brazen Beau in 12th place.
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