By MICHAEL GUERIN
Young Rufus is the most talented three-year-old pacer in New Zealand. He is also the stupidest.
That is the problem for trainer-driver Mark Purdon as his enigmatic colt attempts to repair his tarnished reputation at Addington tonight.
The pair take on two Derby winners, the extremely talented City Rogue and up and comers Sharp Response and Franco New Deal in the $50,000 Flying Stakes over 1950m.
Young Rufus has looked a potential superstar all season and was even backed down to hot favouritism against high class older opposition last start.
But he disgraced himself by hanging severely when leading over the last lap and broke at the top of the straight.
That has prompted Purdon to add a boring pole to his gear and Young Rufus appeared to handle it well when winning an Alexandra Park workout last Saturday.
"He has taken to the pole quite well and drove a lot straight during the workout," said Purdon.
"But he would want to because his hanging last start was very bad."
While champion driver Tony Herlihy has chosen to drive Victoria Derby winner Rare Gem for the season, Purdon says Young Rufus is the better of the pair.
"Rare Gem has closed the gap a lot in the last three months but I still think Young Rufus is the more talented. But he can do things wrong and that will be the big test for him tonight."
Not helping Young Rufus will be a second line draw but most of the favourites have drawn wide on the front line so the tempo should be solid as those back in the field attempt to get handier.
Rare Gem has improved remarkably since Christmas and would appreciate a hot pace tonight but would appear better suited to the 2600m of next week's New Zealand Derby. But he is still good enough to win.'
The north's other hopes Matai Mackenzie and Sharp Response should settle handy and are realistic winning chances, but the danger is City Rogue.
The giant should have won a major race by now but has had no luck and has copped a bad draw again tonight. He is perfectly suited to Addington though and the small field should enable him to get handy, from where he would be extremely hard to hold out.
Racing: Stupidity spoils Rufus
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