Page at odds with bookies as heavy hitter Rudy takes aim
THE prospect of a wet track at Randwick has boosted the chances of Queenslander Rudy in today’s Tramway Stakes (1400m) with Helen Page insisting her stable star is now over the odds in the Group 2 feature.
Page is surprised that Rudy was still rated a $21 chance for the Tramway with UBET late yesterday considering the track was downgraded to a heavy 9 yesterday.
Rudy has won four from five starts on heavy tracks and has also won three from five starts second up.
Page is not underestimating the task at hand today with the Tramway boasting a super field, including NSW Horse of the Year, First Seal, Lucia Valentina, Arabian Gold, Messene, Sweynesse and last year’s Melbourne Cup winner Protectionist.
But the Gold Coast trainer hasn’t given up hope of Rudy claiming an almighty upset today.
“I thought he would be $21 on a good track but at that price on a wet track he is value and I think he will shorten,” Page said.
“He is up against some pretty classy opposition but he has shown he is up to it when running fourth in a Doncaster (in the autumn) and it’s just nice to have him there.
“I think he can win and I wouldn’t be shocked if he did but it’s a classy field so I’m not being silly.”
Along with the wet track, another factor in Rudy’s favour is race fitness. Rudy, Messene, It’s Somewhat and Kirramosa are the only horses in the Tramway who aren’t resuming from a spell.
Page hopes having the run under his belt will help Rudy today but she expects her rivals to be up to the mark.
“Some of them have had two trials and an exhibition gallop,” Page said.
The Gold Coast trainer couldn’t single out a horse to beat but said Rudy has improved since finishing a close third first-up over 1350m at Doomben on August 22.
“I would say the lot will be hard to beat and you have a look at their names and there are some pretty good ones in there,” Page said.
Rudy, whose main target is the Epsom Handicap (1600m) at Randwick on October 3, arrived in Sydney yesterday and has settled in well.