Rubitano Does It Again
From Racing and Sports 03/08/02

Crack sprinter Rubitano left trainer Brian Mayfield-Smith pondering over his future program after he recorded his fifth successive win in the $100,000 Bletchingly Stakes at Caulfield on Saturday.

Mayfield-Smith is not convinced that Rubitano is at his best on rain-affected going, despite his recent wins on winter tracks.

Jockey Nash Rawiller told him that Rubitano was not sure-footed in the dead going and dipped on straightening for the run home.

"I wouldn't want to run him on a track on the worse side of dead or worse than that," Mayfield-Smith said.

“He's winning because he's so far above them but I'm not convinced he's a wet tracker.”

The Bletchingly Stakes produced a replay of last month’s Sir John Monash Stakes with Rubitano again relegating honest mare Ruby Slipper to second place in another notable result for their sire Rubiton.

Ruby Slippr made up ground from near but was safely held by Rubitano over the closing stages, the margin being a flattering 2 1/4 lengths.

Mayfield-Smith said Rubitano is still below his peak at this early stage of his spring campaign.

"With his ability it's silly to have him wound up because he's too good for these horses," he said.

Mayfield-Smith said he was now likely to aim Rubitano at the $350,000 Manikato Stakes (1200m) at Moonee Valley on September 14.

The gelding hasn't previously raced at Moonee Valley and may get his first look at the track in the $150,000 Ian McEwen Trophy (1000m) on August 17.

He said keeping Ruibtano to the shorter races made more appeal than stepping him up to 1400m for the $200,000 J. J. Liston Stakes at Caulfield on August 24.

Rubitano moved into the top echelon of the sprinting ranks when he won the G1 Newmarket Handicap at Flemington in March.

He has now won nine races and has not missed a place in his 12 starts.