Rudi's Pet is on course for a tilt at a valuable contest in Dubai at the end of next month, it emerged today.
The David Nicholls-trained six-year-old started last term on a mark of 73 and rose to 116 in the ratings after four victories including a win in the Group Three King George Stakes at Glorious Goodwood in July when he broke the five-furlong course record.
Rudi's Pet, sixth to Fairy King Prawn in the Hong Kong Sprint at Sha Tin in December, has been entered in the £625,000 Dubai Golden Shaheen sponsored by Gulf News, a six-furlong Listed race on dirt at Nad Al Sheba on March 25th.
"He'll go to Dubai," announced Nicholls. "He's been quite cheerful since he came back and seems in good heart. He's got over his trip - he's good to do with like that.
"I couldn't imagine the dirt would bother him - it's one of the best surfaces in the world. It isn't as sharp as our all-weather surfaces, there's hardly any kickback."
Nicholls will have little difficulty planning a campaign for Rudi's Pet this year as he explained: "Because he's rated 116 it becomes quite difficult for him but easier for us to map out a programme. He'll just have to go for races like the Palace House and Duke Of York.
"He was very impressive at Goodwood and has to go on from there but he's not going to get any slower and he won't lose his way.
"I have an open mind over which is his best distance, either five or six furlongs, and the owners have as well which makes life easier when you're not restricted to the five-furlong races."
