Weather Forecast Favours Red Ruler
Story By Chris Scholtz
Tuesday, 14 October 2008:  | | Red Ruler |
While New Zeland stayers are generally looked on accomplished wet track performers, not so Red Ruler.
Which makes Sargent relieved to know the Melbourne weather forecast from Wednesday until Sunday says fine days and no rain.
Sargent admitted a wet track for the Caulfield Cup as his “worst fear” and says the dry forecast is a relief that puts the seal on the preparation he has given the four-year-old.
Sargent has been aiming Red Ruler at the Caulfield Cup since the autumn when he finished second to fellow Kiwi Nom Du Jeu – a rival on Saturday – in the AJC Derby at Randwick.
Red Ruler surged into Caulfield Cup contention with a return to that form at his last start in New Zealand when he produced an impressive second to Princess Coup , with Nom Du Jeu third and NZ Oaks winner Boundless fourth, in the $2 million Kelt Capital Stakes at Hastings on October 4.
The Racing and Sports form profile for Red Ruler shows he has recorded his four wins on good and fast tracks but has filled just one placing in six runs on dead, slow and heavy going.
Red Ruler, who has been jumping up to a dozen hurdles in gallops as part of his training, arrived in Melbourne on Monday with the Stephen McKee-trained Boundless.
The pair have gone to Russell Cameron's stables with Sargent planning another jumping session for Red Ruler before Saturday.
McKee, who rated the track gallop Boundless produced at Matamata last Saturday as her best work this preparation, has no concern about the Melbourne weather as his mare is a winner on wet and dry tracks.
“It was certainly her best work this campaign,” McKee reported after Saturday's gallop.
"I can tell by her work since the Kelt she's improved quite a bit and the trip to Australia will have her right at her peak.”
Nom Dun Jeu slipped into Melbourne on Saturday and may be the horse most favoured among the Kiwis if the weather forecast is wrong and Caulfield receives some rain before the weekend.
His trainer Murray Baker said Nom Du Jeu had also improved since the Kelt Stakes.
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