Racing: Rabbuka to be prepared for jumping campaign

MELBOURNE - Dual Sydney stakes winner Rabbuka will have his first start since being bought by Eric Musgrove at Caulfield on Saturday.

Formerly owned by Goree Pastoral Company and prepared for most of his career by Gai Waterhouse, Rabbuka has been with the Cranbourne trainer for six weeks and will run in an open handicap over 1400m.

"He's the right type and should do the job, which is good," Musgrove said of the Giant's Causeway 7-year-old.

"He'll start on the flat and then go jumping and we'll see what happens. His flat days we're not too sure about.

"He might have got to the stage where he's not giving 100 per cent but he should like the [jumping] caper."

Musgrove, who prepares his team east of Melbourne, is a renowned trainer of jumpers and among his best career achievements was preparing Karasi to win three successive Nakayama Grand Jumps in Japan.

Rabbuka had his last outing for Waterhouse when 11th to Firebolt in the group two Shannon Stakes (1500m) at Rosehill on September 18.

The gelding won eight races for Waterhouse and placed five other times for $395,650 in earnings.

His best wins were both at listed level at Rosehill - in the Festival Stakes (1500m), when resuming last December; and in the Frank Underwood Cup (2000m) in January, when he beat Spinney.

- AAP