Rudy set for another Sydney campaign
Seasoned traveller Rudy is set to trial at the Gold Coast in preparation for another trip to Sydney during the autumn carnival.
Rudy, who is likely to trial on Tuesday, will be making his sixth trip to Sydney where his only win was in the 2014 Group Two Villiers Stakes.
That win qualified him for the 2015 Doncaster Mile in which he ran a solid fourth.
Although he has only won interstate once, Rudy has generally raced well during his southern trips which also include a campaign in Melbourne two years ago.
The gelding has been entered for the Group One Doncaster Mile on April 1 but he is well down the list of qualifiers at the moment.
Trainer Helen Page has pinpointed the Group Three Japan Racing Association Plate (2000m) at Randwick on April 15 as the target for Rudy in the autumn.
“He ran in it last year and although he was fifth he probably should have won it,” Page said.
Page has been able to mix Rudy’s races between sprint, 1600m events and middle distance events.
“He has raced well at all of those types of distances. Rudy deserves another go at Sydney. He can then come back for the winter,” she said.
Page has several options for Rudy’s comeback run before he heads to Sydney.
“He will probably trial at the Gold Coast on Tuesday. Then there is a 1350 metre race at Doomben on March 11,” she said.
“He might also be able to run in the Goldmarket Handicap at the Gold Coast on March 18 before we head south.”