CHRISTCHURCH - Unbeaten Auckland pacer Young Rufus faces his biggest test in the $30,000 International Cargo Express Rising Stars three-year-old championship at Addington tonight.
But his trainer Mark Purdon believes the brother to former smart kiwi Captain Rufus will handle the rise in class.
"He just races a bit green and is inclined to hang in a bit. It's just him being a bit silly, but he has enough quality to be a Derby horse later in the season," Purdon said.
Purdon's brother-in-law, Tony Herlihy, has chosen Young Rufus as his Sires' Stakes Final drive on November 14 ahead of the Barry Purdon-trained I'vecomealongway, which is a big rap.
Herlihy's decision was vindicated when Young Rufus stretched his unbeaten run to three in a Sires' Stakes heat at Auckland two weeks ago, holding I'vecomealongway in a 2:01.4 mile rate for the 1700m.
Robin Butt, West Melton trainer of top Canterbury three-year- olds, City Rogue and Niobium, believes Herlihy's choice suggests Young Rufus will take a power of beating, in the Sires' Stakes Final on November 14.
"Herlihy has already gone for him ahead of Matai Mackenzie, so he is probably the best one," Butt said.
City Rogue, which led throughout in the opening Sires' Stakes heat at Addington this season on September 15, had to play second fiddle to Matai Mackenzie in the big juvenile races last season.
The Holmes Hanover gelding was the runnerup to Matai MacKenzie in the New Zealand two-year-old championship and the NZ Welcome Stakes, then ran on for third behind Matai Mackenzie and Hero in the New Zealand Sires' Stakes Final at Addington in May.
Butt said City Rogue missed a workout last weekend due to an abandonment, but did not expect him to lose much fitness after having run second to Mighty Khan at the Rangiora workouts a week earlier.
Niobium, which improved on two Sires' Stakes placings this term, to lead throughout in last week' Sires' Heat at Addington, sprinting his final 800m in 56.9s, continues to improve, but has an outside barrier.
Mark Purdon has scratched Bogan Fella from the other feature of the night, the $25,000 Nobilo Wines 1950m.
Purdon hopes to have Bogan Fella back on track for the Ashburton Flying Stakes on Monday week.
Ouch, a luckless seventh first-up for his stable at Auckland last week, will use the Nobilo Wines to bid for one of the two wins he needs to qualify for the New Zealand Cup on November 14.
The speedy In The Pocket gelding should get every chance from the ace barrier, but the big danger should be Avon City Ford Cup winner The Tough Nut.
- NZPA
Racing: Rising Stars to test Young Rufus
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