Rudy and Jumbo Prince dead-heat at Doomben
Rudy and Jumbo Prince will take divergent paths for the remainder of the winter carnival after sharing the Singapore Turf Club Trophy at Doomben.
Jumbo Prince, the heavily backed $3.30 favourite, appeared set for victory when he hit the front with 100m to go but Rudy ($6) made a late lunge to make it a dead-heat.
Trainer Helen Page said Rudy would have his next start in the Group Three Premier’s Cup (2200m) at Doomben on May 28 as his final lead-up run to the Group Two Brisbane Cup (2400m) at Eagle Farm on June 11.
Jumbo Prince will also line up on May 28 in the Group Three Lord Mayor’s Cup (1600m) before trainer Michael Nolan aims him at the Ipswich Cup (2150m) on June 18.
Page decided on a middle-distance campaign for Rudy on the recommendation of triple Melbourne Cup-winning jockey Glen Boss.
“After Glen rode him in the Eclipse Stakes he said we were running him in the wrong races,” Page said.
“He said the horse has an amazing aerobic capacity and would be better suited over staying trips.
“But what a run today with that weight after being caught wide without cover. Look out Brisbane Cup.”
It’s not the first time Page has shared a win in a feature race in Brisbane.
In 1991 her stayer Magnolia Hall dead-heated with Spring Thaw in the PJ O’Shea Stakes before finishing third to Let’s Elope in the Melbourne Cup later that year.