Trainer Stefan Vahala has some thinking to do as the countdown to Ascot’s Pinnacles Carnival begins in earnest with stable flagbearer, Aztec Ruler nearing a return.
Aztec Ruler delivered Valhala some of his best moments in racing, winning both the Listed Bunbury Stakes (1400m) and Carbine Club Of WA Stakes (1400m). Earlier this year, Vahala took the talented gelding east to Melbourne, where he held his own in strong company, recording two placings from four starts.
In Vahala’s judgement the highlight of that campaign came at Flemington in the Group 3 Standish Stakes (1200m), running a close second to It’sourtime and confirming his ability to compete at a higher level.
That performance has Vahala now weighing up which race to target as Ascot’s summer features draw closer.
“He had his first gallop last week and galloped really nicely,” Vahala said on Tabradio.
“This week he’ll have a bit more of a searching gallop and he’s come back in good order.
“He’ll go first up in the Crawford Stakes over 1200m, and to be fair I don’t know which way he’ll go yet.
“We’ll be guided on how he goes first up but to me the best run he’s ever had was in Melbourne up the straight over 1200m.
“Is it a 1200m, or do we go 1600m, I think we’ll just be guided by what he does first up.
“If he runs a blinder we might stick to the shorter course, rather than try and head for the Railway.
“We’ll just see how he goes.”
While the 1200m Winterbottom is being floated and looms as a possible option, Vahala has also set his sights on The Gold Rush (1400m), a race Aztec Ruler ran a super seventh behind Western Empire last year, beaten 2 ½ lengths.
“I think if we had drawn a gate in that Gold Rush, Jarrad (Noske) got off him and was rapt with the run,” Vahala said.
“He had to go back to last pretty much and ran a great race.
“Obviously, that’s his wheelhouse, 1400m in Perth.
“That’s the aim.”
The Crawford Stakes, a Listed race, is run at Ascot on October 18.
Meanwhile, Vahala had something to smile about at Belmont on Saturday as Dr Jay stormed home to take out the final event on the raced, ending a quiet patch for the stable.
Julio Santarelli