A trip to Sydney for the Villiers Stakes hinges on the performance of Rudy in the Listed Recognition Stakes at Doomben.

Trainer Helen Page had planned to give Rudy a light Brisbane summer with the idea to boost his prize money and his chances of contesting Group races in the Sydney autumn and Brisbane winter.

His final run for the summer was to be in the Recognition on Saturday but Page has a start in the Group Two Villiers Stakes at Randwick on December 13 in the back of her mind.

“It has been partly successful because he has run two very good seconds this campaign. But it would be nice to get a bit more in the bank before next year,” Page said.

“We have been talking about the Villiers but we don’t want to get ahead of ourselves. The main thing is to have a happy and contented horse and he will tell us what he is ready to do.”

Rudy is a good dry-track horse but is exceptional on wet tracks having won four of his five starts in rain-affected going.

“As I keep saying Rudy is as good on dry tracks it is just some of the others can’t handle the wet,” Page said.

Meanwhile, Queensland Oaks winner Tinto has trialled well for her return to racing in the Travel Associates Classic (1200m).

Tinto hasn’t raced since finishing unplaced behind The Inventor in the Tattersall’s Cup in June.

However, she was an eye-catching third behind noted speed horses Torandoes and Trail Boss in a Toowoomba barrier trial on November 11.

Trainer Rex Lipp believes Tinto can race well despite being lumbered with topweight of 59kg in a non-claiming race.

“The trial was good and she will hopefully press on to the Magic Millions Cup in January and then possibly the Sydney autumn,” Lipp said.

Article from justhorseracing.com.au