Queensland Derby winner Rubira has had a slight change in his leadup to spring racing. Instead of being in the barn at Pukekohe going through his gears he has had a short letup in a green paddock at Morrinsville.
Not that there is any problem. Just that Nathan and Mark felt that he had earned a freshen up on the grass for a few days between training.
“When we summed it up he hadn’t had a real grass diet break for a while” Mark said
“He was in Brisbane for quite a long spell and and there was not much green grass there.Tony (Shaw) has a lovely green paddock at Morrinsville (where Mark’s horses are based at the moment) . Nathan and I decided to give him a chance here to get back to it. He has a concentrated racing programme between now and the end of the year so it is a good time to do it”
So while it is a bit much to expect Rubira to start doing a Tom Jones impression as he enjoys his Dr Green medicine he will certainly appreciate the diet.
There is confidence in the camp that Rubira has matured into form that will pose an even bigger threat to his contemporaries in the major races coming up than he has done in the past-which was strong enough.
He is one of the first four of the team to travel south soon. They will be based at Dancingonmoonlight Farm near Kaiapoi through their spring campaigns.
“We were originally going to Michael’s property but it looks like the south team will be larger than we originally thought and too many later on for him to find space for with his own increased stable numbers.” Mark said
Akuta,Oscar Bonavena, Rubira and Special Occasion will be the first team headed south with more to come as the season builds. Two year features in Auckland are not far away and complicate things. Nathan and Mark will share southern duties through the spring.
Akuta has flown through his comeback race.
“He was full of himself this morning and is thriving” Mark said midweek