Rudy to run at Rosehill en route to G1

Wednesday 25 March 2015, 1:53pm

Gold Coast trainer Helen Page has had a change of heart and will run Doncaster Mile hopeful Rudy at Rosehill on Saturday despite his outside draw and top weight.

Page had planned to give Rudy just two runs into the Doncaster via the Liverpool City Cup and last month's Ajax Stakes.

However, she now feels Rudy will benefit from running in Saturday's Doncaster Prelude (1500m) at Rosehill to be at his top for The Championships.

"I might have been a bit soft on him after his good second first-up in the Liverpool City Cup," Page said.

"The race was over 1300 metres and I didn't want to flatten him. But he might have got away from us a bit and put on a bit of weight.

"He has really thrived down in Sydney."

Page said she wasn't concerned by Rudy's wide barrier draw on Saturday, nor his 58kg handicap.

"But what does have me worried is the pace of the race. There was no pace in the Ajax Stakes and Rudy got posted on a limb," Page said.

"He had no chance of winning the way the race was run.

"So we really do want some pace in the race this Saturday. It means we can ride him back and let him run home."

Rudy earned a ballot exemption for the Doncaster Mile when he won the Villiers Stakes in December.

Page remains convinced her charge will be competitive in Saturday week's $3 million contest for which he is a $26 chance.

"Saturday should top him off very well and we have thought all along he is a Group One horse who gets into the Doncaster with 50 kilograms," she said.

A field of 10 has accepted for the Doncaster Prelude including San Diego for Godolphin and the Hawkes Racing-trained Leebaz.

– AAP

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