Weight-for-age winner Rubick holds bragging rights among Gerald Ryan’s early season three-year-olds but the trainer also has high hopes Time for War can recapture his juvenile form in the Brian Crowley Stakes.
Rubick beat the older horses in Saturday’s Schillaci Stakes at Caulfield to move Ryan to rate him the equal of Snitzel, winner of the 2006 Oakleigh Plate.
Now a successful sire, Snitzel has produced many stakes winners including dual Group Two winner Time For War who runs in Saturday’s 1200m Listed race at Randwick.
The winner of the Pago Pago Stakes during the Sydney autumn carnival, Time For War beat Brazen Beau and Looks Like The Cat in the BRC Sires Produce Stakes in May.
At his first start for the season, Time For War was swamped late in the Roman Consul Stakes after over-racing but finished less than three lengths from the winner, Brazen Beau.
“I was rapt in his first-up run but we will take the blinkers off him on Saturday,” Ryan said.
“Brenton Avdulla rides him and we will see where we go after the Brian Crowley.”
The Ryan-trained Klammer finished last of six in the Roman Consul and is not a certain Brian Crowley starter.
Rubick, meanwhile, has come through his Schillaci win in good order and will race next in the Coolmore Stud Stakes.
“He is as good as gold. I’m very happy and we will look at all options after the Coolmore,” Ryan said.
Rubick’s spring campaign was delayed by a virus which affected many horses in Sydney including his stablemate, Black Opal Stakes winner Lucky Raquie.
The filly has recovered and will run in a barrier trial on Tuesday.
“She seems very well but is likely to only have one start this spring,” Ryan said.
“If she comes through the trial as well as I know she will, the options are the Champagne Stakes at Moonee Valley on Cox Plate day, a three-year-old fillies race at Canterbury or a 1400 metre race at Flemington on Cup day.”
Time For War and Klammer are among 13 entries for the Brian Crowley headed by Delectation who is an acceptor in Wednesday’s Blue Sapphire Stakes at Caulfield.