Racing: Red Ruler ready for rematch

If Saturday's $85,000 Lawnmaster Awapuni Gold Cup confuses you, probably the safest bet is that perhaps there won't be 1.3 lengths between Vosne Romanee and Red Ruler this time.

Certainly not in Vosne Romanee's favour. That was the measure between the pair when they last met in the $200,000 SkyCity NZ Stakes at Ellerslie a couple of weeks ago.

Red Ruler's trainer John Sargent has enormous respect for Vosne Romanee, but knows he has a fitter horse to represent him this time.

Sargent is treading a careful path.

He has Red Ruler in the Queen Elizabeth Cup in Hong Kong in three weeks and is looking at the Singapore Cup after that.

An international campaign like that does not allow for too many gut-busters up front.

However, Sargent knows Red Ruler is well enough to win this time if he can get the better of Vosne Romanee.

"He was too fresh at Ellerslie last time. He pulled hard and Mark [Du Plessis] said the other morning how much difference he's noticed in his work and how much he's relaxed since Ellerslie," said Sargent on Wednesday. "He won't be far away on Saturday.

"On form he and Vosne Romanee look to stand out in the race and it will probably work out that way. Red Ruler's a different horse this time."

He'll need to be because Vosne Romanee has been set three group one targets this season, the Kelt Capital, Zabeel Classic and the SkyCity and has won them all.

All at Saturday's 2000m.

He is a different horse to where he was this time last year and is a credit to local trainer Jeff Lynds.

The draw favours Red Ruler coming out of the No 2 gate with Vosne Romanee out at No 7.

But the fact there are only nine runners should allow Opie Bosson to find a spot early for Vosne Romanee.

Evergreen Sir Slick should come across from the No 5 draw and lead and it will be up to the two favourites to slug it out from the 250m.