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Rubick filly tuned up for comeback with Cranbourne trial win
The Patrick Payne-trained Rubisaki (Rubick) showed her well-being when she won her barrier trial at Cranbourne on Thursday, clocking a time of 58.80 seconds for the 990 metres under Billy Egan.
The daughter of Rubick (Encosta De Lago) kicked off six race winning streak when she landed handicap 1200 metres at Moonee Valley in November 2019 and those six race wins included victories AV Kewney Stakes (Gr 2, 1400m), PJ Bell Stakes (Gr 3, 1200m) and James HB Carr Stakes (Gr 3, 1400m).
The filly’s four-year-old career has not gone to plan so far, finishing tenth when she resumed in the WW Cockram Stakes (Gr 3, 1200m) on August 29, while she hasn’t been seen since her 12th place finish in the Rose of Kingston Stakes (Gr 2, 1400m), after which she was found to have minor suspensory injury.
Payne expects the mare to return in the Sapphire Stakes (Gr 2, 1200m) at Royal Randwick on April 17 before potentially heading to the Proud Miss Stakes (Gr 3, 1200m) at Morphettville on May 15.
“She did a good job, she isn't normally a good trial horse or trackworker but that's as good as she will trial," Payne told Racing.com.
"We have started with a clean slate, we didn't find much wrong with her last preparation, it was probably a combination of firm tracks and just going through that early four-year-old stage.
"She had a minor suspensory, but I am not blaming that.
"When she is right, she is really honest and won't let you down.”