"Champion" Rubitano blitzes rivals
By Patrick Bartley of The Age 03/11/02

The usually conservative Brian Mayfield-Smith shocked many yesterday by declaring that Rubitano, who won the Salinger Stakes, was nearing champion status.

Mayfield-Smith appeared overwhelmed by Rubitano's success, who delivered the trainer his second successive Salinger after Sudurka's win last year.

"He's a remarkable horse and, dare I say it, he's now getting in the champion sprinter class", Mayfield-Smith said.

Rubitano, who collected the other major group one sprint event in Victoria with the Newmarket Handicap in autumn this year, had to lug 57.5 kilograms down the Flemington straight six yesterday.

"I'm not sure where he'll go now. The handicapper will be catching up with him having won two group ones but he's a fine horse," Mayfield-Smith said.

"I like to keep them (horses like Rubitano) in their own environment. I don't like putting them into little pigeon boxes, keep them where they're happy, and when you keep them in their environment, they give you everything they can."

When asked if Rubitano would compete in Saturday's Emirates Classic, Mayfield-Smith replied, "I'm not sure, I doubt it. We'll just see how he is."

Yesterday's Salinger Stakes became a minefield for punters, with most on-course believing the better going was on the outside rail, as shown in earlier sprint races.

But soon after the start of the Salinger, the race broke into two divisions, with a group on the inside of the straight track proving far superior.

Before the race, on the strength of having drawn on the outside rail, the Tony McEvoy-trained North Boy was sensationally backed but tired in the closing stages to finish 12th.

Mayfield-Smith, who has enjoyed a remarkable spring carnival having won 11 listed events over the past month, said he did not want to be labelled as just a trainer of sprinters.

"I still love training stayers, I've won derbies and cups over the years, but it's just the type of horse that I'm getting through the stable. It's not my preference, it's just the way it's happening," Mayfield-Smith said.

Local sprinter Intelligent Star nearly gave trainer Mick Price his second group one success when the six-year-old dashed clear in the closing stages but couldn't counter the finishing effort of Rubitano, who came away to win with authority.

Rubitano, despite an imposing record, was friendless in the betting ring, blowing from $4 to $7, while runner-up Intelligent Star started $12. Improving sprinter Cosmic Strike finished powerfully for third at $41.