RUBIRA goes into his fresh up run at Alexandra Park overweight-and Nathan is thrilled about it.
“He’s never been that easy to keep condition on but this time he is rounder than I have ever seen him and that is a good sign because he has been given plenty of work and needed it. The way he has handled it has been impressive. I think he will take two runs to peak and Jeremiah looks to have an edge on us first up.
As I say he has done plenty of work. His trial was ok. But he is going to be a lot better for it and punters should know that”
Rubira’s early runs will determine his longer term plans but while he ranks favourite with the punters “top three” is enough for Nathan to be happy at this stage.
The younger charges THREE BAGS FULL and DON’T GET ME STARTED resume earlier in the night with the former rated as public favourite for the race, Mark taking the reins. Nathan is not sure that is quite right but says there is little between them. He will handle the “second string”
“Their trial last week was equally good from both. There will not be much between them after this. Don’t Get Me Started (who trailed stablemate in the trial) has done a little more prep at this stage but Three Bags Full sprinted home good and will soon catch up. In a race like this you can see he will be a threat on his past form. I haven’t studied it up yet.But it seems an open race and in these sort of inexperienced horses something can sometimes get a soft lead and outsprint the others home even if they are not the best in the race. “
There are four trials being held before the first and four Purdon trainees feature. In the second heat LADY DI the daughter of Princess Tiffany and winner of one from three and BEWARE THE STORM Jean Feiss’s Group 2 winner at Addington in May are two of the five starters and PRINCESS KREKA and SOPHIE ARDEN feature in the last heat. Princess Kreka, which had good placed form in her last campaign, trialled well but Sophie Arden dropped away from a handy spot when the pressure went on.
“I will see how she comes through this one before making any further plans”
PIC: Rubira Taking Out the Queensland Derby