Rubitano to bloom in Spring
By Andrew Eddy of The Age 21/07/02

Newmarket Handicap winner Rubitano will be given the chance this spring to add a middle-distance group one win to his already imposing record following his blistering return to racing in yesterday's listed Monash Stakes at Caulfield.

Trainer Brian Mayfield-Smith said after Rubitano disposed of a more-than-handy line-up of sprinters that the horse would step up to 1600 metres this campaign despite his amazing record over the sprint trips.

Yesterday's win took his record to eight wins and $675,000 in stakes from only 11 starts.

"We are going to set him a campaign aiming at a 1600-metre race later on," Mayfield-Smith said.

"I am keen for him to get over that trip and I remember Brett Prebble saying to me after he won on him in the autumn that he was a serious racehorse who could certainly go as far as 1600 metres."

Rubitano, the $4.80 favourite, travelled sweetly in third place for much of the 1000-metre trip behind eventual runner-up Ruby Slipper and Aragonce before going after the leader in the straight and running away for one-and-three-quarter-length win.

Rubitano's stablemate Prince Rubiton finished on well for third.

While delighted with the win, Mayfield-Smith was not surprised by the ease of the victory.

"He'd already stamped himself as a real topline horse when he went on from his first campaign as a four-year-old and won a Newmarket. Usually horses in their first preparation turn it up after five runs but after 10 runs, he could have started again after the Newmarket, he was still so fit and fresh.

"It's a bit early to say after just 11 runs but he's certainly one of the best sprinters I've ever trained," the Flemington trainer said.

But Mayfield-Smith knew he had to spell the son of Rubiton after his all-the-way win in the Newmarket at Flemington in March if he was to turn him into a middle-distance galloper this spring.

"He really spelled well and, as you can see, has come back superbly."

The Monash Stakes was also a triumph for former super galloper Rubiton, who sired the first three placegetters - a feat not performed in a stakes race in Melbourne since the Zabeel trio of Sky Heights, Laebeel and Inaflury trifectaed the 1999 Caulfield Cup.

Mayfield-Smith said Rubitano would tackle the group three Bletchingly Stakes at Caulfield on August 3 before stepping up to 1400 metres in the weight-for-age Liston Stakes a fortnight later.

He was likely to get his chance at 1600 metres in a race such as the group one Toorak Handicap at Caulfield in October.

Mayfield-Smith is likely to have runners in most of the major sprint races in Melbourne this spring with the likes of Prince Rubiton, up-and-comer Steel King and the flying filly Innovation Girl, who is due to resume on Saturday in Adelaide in the Dermody Stakes.

The Monash Stakes was a disappointment for trainer Lee Freedman as his classy four-year-old mare Joie bled for the second time and is now under a lifetime ban in this country.