Helen Page hoping Rudy can record an upset win in today’s Hollindale Stakes on the Gold Coast

RUDY has been a trainer’s dream for Helen Page who hasn’t ruled out the gelding recording an upset in today’s $358,000 Hollindale Stakes.

Trainer Helen Page with Rudy ahead of Prime Ministers Cup day at the Gold Coast Turf Club. Photo: Glenn Hampson.

RUDY has been a trainer’s dream for Helen Page and she is hoping the gelding can cause an upset in the $358,000 Hollindale Stakes on the Gold Coast today.

“He has won nearly $800,000 so he has been very good to us,” Page said of Rudy, who is up against some of Australia’s best horses in the Group 2 race over 1800m.

Rudy, a $23 chance, is not suited by the weight-for-age scale of the Hollindale Stakes.

He will carry 59kg, the same as Group 1 winners It’s Somewhat ($3.40) and Preferment ($10), and is conceding 2kg to the mare Single Gaze ($7), another Group 1 winner.

“He may not be a weight-for-age horse. These are the best horses in the country,” the Gold Coast-based Page said.

“Tactics play a big part in how the race is going to be run so only time will tell.

“He is probably not up there with the best in quality in the race but he is an honest performer and always gives his best.”

The Hollindale will be the fourth run of Rudy’s current preparation, which includes a third placing in heavy conditions in the Japan Racing Association Plate (2000m) at Randwick in his latest start in Sydney.

“He is going well and coming off a good run in Sydney,” Page said.

“The track in Sydney was a bog so he ran very well to run third – I was really happy.”

Rudy, a six-year-old, has won eight of his 44 starts, including the Group 2 Villiers Stakes (1600m) at Randwick in 2014.

Page is hoping a smart tactical ride by jockey Robbie Fradd could produce a boilover today.

Regardless of the result, Rudy will always be a favourite of Page.

“We have always been good to him and planned his races and we never like to over race him,” she said.

“He usually only has about five races each preparation.

“Rudy is one of those you dream of. He’s been a dream for me because he is honest.

“I look after him. I make sure he is not over-raced and if anything is wrong we don’t run him.

“We try to do the right thing by him because he has been rewarding us all the way along.”