A POTENTIAL STAR RETURNS IN THE RUBITON STAKES

By Graham Potter | Wednesday, February 8, 2023

There will be a lot more than just a passing interest in the performance of the Steven O’Dea and Matt Hoysted trained Uncommon James in the Group 2 Rubiton Stakes at the Ladbroke’s Park Hillside track in Melbourne on Saturday.

A winner of five of his six starts, with one runner-up finish, just where the form currently stands of a horse that showed such great potential will be a solid point of focus as he takes on his first race assignment for six months, having last raced on August 13 last year.

After finishing a close up second on debut back in May last year, the now four-year-old son of Cable Bay, won his next two starts, included a Listed race success in the Oxlade Stakes during Brisbane’s Winter Carnival ... but then was, disappointingly, out of action for a full year (from June 12, 2021 to June 25, 2022) ... before finally returning for his second preparation, throughout which he remained unbeaten in a further three starts ... thus taking his current winning sequence to five straight successes.

The last of those wins came in his first ‘away game’ in which he trounced his opposition in the Listed Regal Roller Stakes and Uncommon James will now take the step up into Group racing company for the first time.

With the Rubiton Stakes being at Group 2 level, that does represent a significant rise in class, but with O’Dea and Hoysted having been so careful with their handling of Uncommon James, you have to feel that this latest placement is a sign of their confidence in how the horse is progressing this time in.

Top jockey Damian Lane, who ride Uncommon James to victory in the Regal Roller, has added his vote of confidence by taking the ride.

Should Uncommon James perform well on Saturday, the Oakleigh Plate has been pencilled in as his follow-up assignment, with the Newmarket under consideration after the Oakleigh.

Uncommon James is currently the ruling favourite for Saturday’s Rubiton Stakes at $3.40 with the Peter Moody trained Chain Of Lightning (who will be ridden by Jamie Kah) next on offer at $4.80.

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